U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were active in Hyde Park the week of Oct. 13, detaining three workers and questioning an international student from the University of Chicago, according to a message to the community from university administrators, while several residents were also detained the afternoon of Oct. 20
This recent spike in activity is part of ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which began Sept. 8. The Department of Homeland Security announced the effort resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 arrests across Illinois through Oct. 3.
The university’s Office of International Affairs sent an email following the student’s questioning, detailing the circumstances of the event and outlining recommendations for students on F-1 and J-1 visas.
“I understand this situation is concerning to many in our community. At the same time, it is a reminder of the importance of being prepared and having a plan in place,” the statement said. “OIA advises that international students on F-1 and J-1 visas carry a copy of their most recent I-94 arrival record and copy of their passport bio page as proof of legal status in the U.S.”
According to Allison Beaulieu, a Lab fine arts teacher, several people living on 55th and Everett were detained this week.
Other schools across Chicago, especially public schools, have encouraged their students to carry some kind of identification in case they are stopped by federal agents, Ms. Beaulieu said.
“They suggest keeping something in your pocket or on your phone,” Ms. Beaulieu said. “I know, again, at public schools, they’ve been telling students to put their passports in backpacks. I thought that was extreme, but actually, I’m not really sure if it is.”
Ms. Beaulieu also emphasized that students should take reasonable precautions when going outside for lunch or walking home, and stressed the importance of remaining in contact with others.
Lab remains comparatively unaffected as of this moment, but that could change at any time. Ms. Beaulieu is one of many people who find these events to be extremely unsettling.
“I am very concerned. I am as a person — not as Lab faculty, but as a person, as a mother, as a community member,” Ms. Beaulieu said. “But I’m really concerned, because I don’t think that it’s going to be long before they’re by our school, and there are kids at our school and families at our school that are scared.”
