Operation Midway Blitz:  Impact of Federal Immigration Surge on Chicago (Fortnightly of Chicago) Chicago Project on Security and Threats
Robert A. Pape  |  February 16, 2026

On February 16, CPOST Director Robert Pape presented his research on the impact of Operation Midway Blitz on Chicago. He argued that Chicago is not just another city experiencing immigration enforcement. Under Operation Midway Blitz, it has become a testing ground for a new model of federal power—one that blurs the line between law enforcement and political control. Minneapolis shows where this dynamic can lead when legitimacy collapses. Chicago is where we can still decide whether it does.

Click here to download his presentation.