The Trump administration slammed the legacy media on Monday for suggesting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts raids at schools, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. 

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused the media of fear mongering with implying that the Trump administration was targeting students in classrooms. McLaughlin said arrests would only be made at schools if the target was an illegal immigrant employee.

“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense,” McLaughlin said. “If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened.”

“The media is sadly attempting to create a climate of fear and smear law enforcement,” McLaughlin told The Daily Wire. “These smears are contributing to our ICE law enforcement officers facing 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

Several media outlets have published stories highlighting fears that immigration authorities would show up at schools. 

The New York Times ran an article called “What if ICE Agents Show Up? Schools Prepare Teachers and Parents,” while the Washington Post published “This back-to-school season, educators prepare for ICE encounters.” NBC ran an article “‘The impact has been real’: ICE raid fears keep students out of classrooms.” 

“ICE is not going to schools to make arrests of children,” McLaughlin said, adding that criminals would “no longer be able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest.”

A press release from Homeland Security said that while ICE could conduct operations at schools, agents would use discretion and that the department said those circumstances would be “extremely rare.”

The Trump administration has focused on catching illegal aliens who have been convicted or charged with violent crimes in addition to illegally crossing the border.

Border Czar Tom Homan said during a speech at the State Freedom Caucus Summit over the weekend that over 70% of ICE arrests have been of those who have been charged with additional crimes. He added that the administration still maintained the right to deport anyone, regardless of whether they had committed a second crime upon entering the country. 

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has officially launched Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, marking the beginning of a high-profile ICE crackdown targeting criminal illegal aliens — a move already sending Democratic leaders into a frenzy.

The Monday operation, according to DHS, is dedicated to the memory of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash by an illegal alien, Julio Cucul-Bol, in Illinois. ICE agents, who have been quietly preparing in the city for over a week, are now arresting illegal immigrants with criminal records — a population the administration says has thrived under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary policies.

“President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime while Governor Pritzker stands with criminal illegal aliens,” DHS stated bluntly.

DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck caused by criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol in Illinois.

This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois… pic.twitter.com/OjbgtTE1Au

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 8, 2025

Chicago Democrats spent the weekend protesting the federal presence — and Trump made no effort to soften the blow. On social media, the president posted a meme titled “Chipocalypse Now,” spoofing “Apocalypse Now” with the tagline: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”

Trump clarified Monday that the ICE raids are currently limited to immigration enforcement and not a full policing surge — “yet.” He emphasized that the White House remains open to sending broader federal reinforcements to the city, but is awaiting a formal request.

“We’d love to go into Chicago,” Trump said. “We’re waiting for a call from Chicago.” He highlighted the staggering crime statistics that continue to plague the city, pointing to six murders just over the weekend and nearly 50 killings in recent weeks. “Only the criminals will be hurt,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Pritzker has responded with characteristic indignation, calling Trump a “wannabe dictator.” “The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on X.

But for many residents, the crisis is less about optics and more about survival. Chicago experienced 572 homicides in 2024 — leading the nation for the 13th straight year. And over Labor Day weekend alone, nearly 60 people were shot, with nine killed.

Despite public outcry and media pressure, both Pritzker and Johnson have repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s offers for help. “There is not an emergency,” Pritzker has insisted, while Johnson shouted to a crowd, “No federal troops in the city of Chicago.”

Trump isn’t buying it. “We’re going in,” he told reporters last week. “I didn’t say when … but we have the right to do it. I have an obligation to protect this country.”

Operation Midway Blitz is now underway — and the battle between Washington and Illinois Democrats is only heating up.