The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it will begin "Operation Midway Blitz" to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker does not want the federal government in Illinois. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI UPI

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it will implement "Operation Midway Blitz" to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago."

A press release by the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the operation is in honor of Katie Abraham, 19, who was killed in a hit-and-run car accident in Urbana, Ill., in January. Chloe Polzin, 20, also was killed in the crash.

Julio Cucul Bol, 29, a citizen of Guatemala, is accused of being the drunken driver. He was arrested near Dallas. At the time, he allegedly had fake Mexican papers.

"This operation will target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. "For years, Governor [JB] Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians released Tren de Aragua gang members, rapists, kidnappers, and drug traffickers on Chicago's streets -- putting American lives at risk and making Chicago a magnet for criminals. President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [of Homeland Security Kristi] Noem have a clear message: no city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return."

Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reacted with outrage that the president announced the operation on X with a meme. The AI-generated image that said "Chipacolypse Now," said "I love the smell of deportations in the morning." It also said, "Chicago about to find out why we call it the Department of WAR."

Pritzker reposted Trump's post on X, and said: "The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city."

Johnson said on X, "The President's threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution. We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump."

On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social:

"Governor Pritzker just stated that he doesn't want Federal Government HELP! WHY??? What is wrong with this guy, and the 5% in Polls Mayor. I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the Criminals will be hurt!"

Pritzer fired back: "'I want to help people, not hurt them,' says the guy who just threatened an American city with the Department of War."

Though Trump has been threatening to send National Guard units to Chicago to fight crime, this operation is separate from that. This operation is only to arrest undocumented "criminals," the press release said.

In June, Trump sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, ostensibly to quell protests. And last month, he deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., to deter crime.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled the Trump administration violated the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. Breyer stayed the ruling until Sept. 12 to allow the administration to appeal.