SENATOR DUCKWORTH’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT ILLINOIS FROM DOMESTIC DEPLOYMENTS OF THE MILITARY AND OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ

Are you an Illinoisan or an immediate relative of an Illinoisan impacted by recent surges in immigration operations or domestic deployments in Illinois? While we are unable to guarantee success, it is my office’s priority to do what we can to assist. Please fill out a Privacy Act release formThis link opens in new window or tab.This link opens in new window or tab. to begin the casework process and a staff member from my office will be in touch as soon as possible.

“Congress cannot allow Donald Trump—or any President—to politicize our Armed Forces for their own gain and turn our law enforcement officers against their fellow Americans. Forcing the military and federal law enforcement, uninvited, into our cities to intimidate Americans in their own communities does not make our nation stronger, it simply distracts the military from executing its core mission of keeping us safe from real adversaries while terrorizing our neighborhoods.

“Trump’s actions against Chicago during his so-called ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ were unwarranted, unwanted and unjust moves straight out of the authoritarian’s playbook.

"Our nation must remain vigilant, and I will continue to do everything I can to put an end to this egregious abuse of our law enforcement and military while protecting civil rights and preserving public trust in our Armed Forces.”

– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth

Senator Duckworth continues to work tirelessly to defend Illinoisians from President Donald Trump’s surge of violent immigration enforcement officers and threats to needlessly deploy federal troops to Illinois. Senator Duckworth fought forThis link opens in new window or tab.This link opens in new window or tab., singlehandedly securedThis link opens in new window or tab.This link opens in new window or tab. and ledThis link opens in new window or tab.This link opens in new window or tab. the only oversight hearing on domestic deployments of the military in American cities. She also pushed for accountability over DHS’s excessive use of force against civilians and led multiple legislative efforts to prevent misuse of the military and push for accountability, including the Military in Law Enforcement Accountability ActThis link opens in new window or tab.This link opens in new window or tab. to curb military support to civilian law enforcement and enhance Americans’ ability to hold the military accountable and preserve their civil rights.

Senator Duckworth has pushed back against the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” and worked to protect Illinoisans by:

Pushing DoD IG to Launch Investigation into Domestic Deployments, based on Call by Senators Duckworth, Durbin and other Senators. After calls from Senator Duckworth, Durbin and others to launch an investigation on domestic deployments, on May 5, the DoD IG formally started an investigation into the implications for military readiness of recent domestic deployments of active-duty and National Guard troops to Los Angeles; Washington, DC; Portland; Chicago; and Memphis.
Voting Against Increased Funding for ICE and Border Patrol: Senator Duckworth voted againstThis link opens in new window or tab. the disastrous Republican reconciliation spending package which gifted ICE and Border Patrol an additional $70 billion without adding any of the commonsense guardrails, reforms or protections that the American people have been demanding. After President Donald Trump signed the bill into law, Senators Duckworth and Durbin released a joint statementThis link opens in new window or tab. unveiling how that money could have instead helped lower costs for everyday Americans.
Voting Against the Confirmation of DHS Secretary Mullin: Senator Duckworth voted against the nominationThis link opens in new window or tab. of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mulling (R-OK) to serve as a Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing his lack of qualifications and his troubling pattern of anger issues.
Calling Out DHS for Traumatizing Kids: At a spotlight forum hosted by Senator Durbin, Senator Duckworth called out DHS agentsThis link opens in new window or tab. for terrorizing children and deploying tear gas near elementary schools. Duckworth noted that she was prohibited from using tear gas against foreign combatants as a Soldier in Iraq, yet the Trump’s agents routinely deployed the dangerous chemical irritant near schools in Chicago neighborhoods.
Calling for a Report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on the Use of Funds for Immigration Surges: Senator Duckworth, along with Senator Durbin and 19 other Senators, called on CBO to probeThis link opens in new window or tab. the costs of President Trump’s violent escalation of civil immigration enforcement in Chicago and other cities across the country.
Supporting the Removal of DHS Secretary Noem: Senator Duckworth lauded the removalThis link opens in new window or tab. of Kristi Noem from serving as Secretary of Homeland Security, noting that “Noem should’ve been fired a long, long time ago,” and calling on the Trump Administration to work with Democrats to enact commonsense DHS reforms.
Calling Out DHS for Intimidating Oversight Watchdog: Senator Duckworth called out Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi NoemThis link opens in new window or tab. for making thinly veiled threats to invoke a never-before-used authority to kill any DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into the Department’s misconduct. Duckworth demanded Secretary Noem release all emails and documents between DHS and OIG related to the matter and commit to never threaten to invoke her authority to kill an investigation.
Demanding the Trump Administration Remove ICE from the Investigation of the Shooting of Alexi Pretti: Senator Duckworth demanded that DHS Secretary NoemThis link opens in new window or tab. and FBI Director Patel immediately remove any ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from the investigation into the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti. Duckworth’s demands came after it was originally announced that HSI agents were originally put in charge of the investigation and sought to investigate Pretti rather than his murderers.
Supporting Victims of Midway Blitz: Senator Duckworth met with Marimar MartinezThis link opens in new window or tab., a proud Chicagoan and U.S. citizen, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago in October 2025. DHS then falsely branded Martinez as a domestic terrorist and charged her with assault, which Trump’s own Department eventually withdrew. Duckworth and Martinez met to discuss legal efforts to release body camera footage and text messages from Border Patrol agents regarding her shooting.
Voting Against Department of Homeland Security Funding: Senator Duckworth voted againstThis link opens in new window or tab. a funding package that included the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which included even more unchecked money for Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol. Duckworth demanded reasonable, commonsense safeguards to address the vicious abuses DHS committed in Chicago, Minneapolis and across the country and committed to voting against any additional DHS funding that did not include reforms.
Meeting with DHS Inspector General to Discuss Independent Investigations into DHS Shootings: Shortly after the tragic killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, Senator Duckworth met with DHS Inspector General Joseph CuffariThis link opens in new window or tab. to reiterate the urgent need for an independent investigation into DHS’s brutal and lawless conduct.
Demanding Rights for Wrongly Detained Citizens or Families Harmed by ICE: Senator Duckworth introduced an amendmentThis link opens in new window or tab. to the DHS Appropriations Act to allow the families of U.S. citizens who were wrongfully killed by Trump’s lawless agents or those who were wrongfully detained to sue the federal government for at least $500,000.
Pushing for an Independent Investigation into Deadly DHS Shootings: After the remorseless, public killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, Senator Duckworth introduced an amendmentThis link opens in new window or tab. to the DHS Appropriations Act that would require the DHS Office of Inspector General to investigate all use of force incidents by Trump’s agents during their reckless immigration enforcement operations, including Operations Midway Blitz and Metro Surge.
Reiterating the Need for a Joint Investigation into DHS Surges: Nearly 100 days after her initialThis link opens in new window or tab. call for the DHS and DOJ Inspectors General to investigate the outrageous use of force by Trump’s agents in Chicago, Senator Duckworth reiterated her demandThis link opens in new window or tab. and broadened her request for a joint investigative task force to also investigate misconduct in Minneapolis and other American cities. Duckworth’s request came shortly after an ICE agent killed Renee Good, an unarmed 37-year-old mother.
Calling for a Report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Cost of Domestic Deployments: After Senator Duckworth’s callThis link opens in new window or tab.. alongside U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and nine other Senators, CBO released a report This link opens in new window or tab.that found that for the last six months of 2025, the domestic deployments cost nearly $496 million. This number includes $21 million specifically for the deployment in Illinois.
Supporting Supreme Court Ruling in Trump v. Illinois: Senators Duckworth and Durbin released a joint statement.This link opens in new window or tab. in support of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Illinois to block the Trump Administration’s legal rationale for deploying National Guard to Illinois.
Protecting Americans from Misuse of Domestic Military Deployments in FY26 NDAA: Senator Duckworth secured provisions in the FY2026 NDAA.This link opens in new window or tab. that would protect American civil rights and put guardrails on misuse of the military domestically. Specifically, these provisions require servicemembers identify themselves when supporting law enforcement in order to enhance accountability to the public and avoid misunderstanding about who is providing logistical support versus conducting arrests or law enforcement duties. This provision is a modified version of her Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act.This link opens in new window or tab. Additionally, the Senator’s provisions require mandatory training for all servicemembers of the legal bounds of their roles and their rules for using force when deploying on American soil.?
Demanding Investigations into Violations of Illinoisians’ Constitutional Rights in Operation Midway Blitz: Senators Duckworth and Durbin referred the Trump Administration.This link opens in new window or tab. officials and Federal law enforcement agents responsible for “Operation Midway Blitz” to Attorney General Pam Bondi for investigation of unlawful actions and potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 242, which makes it a federal crime to violate an individual’s constitutionally protected rights, privileges and immunities.
Voting to Block Final Passage of Defense Bill for the First Time: Amid the Trump Administration’s deployment of the military to American cities, including in Illinois, Senator Duckworth voted no for final passage of the FY2026 NDAA.This link opens in new window or tab. for the first time in her career. She had previously attempted multiple times to hold the Trump Administration accountable by pushing for necessary Congressional consent to domestic use of the military but was blocked by Republicans. Duckworth has supported every NDAA since she was first elected to Congress in 2012.
Securing a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Hearing on Domestic Deployments:This link opens in new window or tab. After the Senator led all of her fellow SASC Democrats in calling on SASC Chairman Wicker to hold this hearing, and shortly after she blocked expedited passage of the FY2026 NDAA in order to secure it, Senator Duckworth led.This link opens in new window or tab. a SASC oversight hearing on domestic deployments of the military to American cities.
Helping Release a Report on Costs of Domestic Military Deployments: Senator Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and 10 of their Congressional colleagues in co-authoring and releasing a groundbreaking report.This link opens in new window or tab. detailing the Trump Administration’s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement and its adverse impact of readiness and morale.
Debunking DHS Claims about Operation Midway Blitz: Senator Duckworth and Illinois Congressional Democrats published a fact check debunking.This link opens in new window or tab. DHS's false and misleading claims throughout the course of Operation Midway Blitz.
Highlighting Illegality of Trump’s Domestic Deployments to American Cities in Amicus Brief: Senator Duckworth joined a coalition of 155 Senate and House Democrats led by Durbin, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) and Adam Smith (D-WA-09) in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in Trump v. Illinois, in supporting Illinois’ legal challenge to President Trump’s unwarranted National Guard deployment in Illinois.
Seeking DHS OIG Investigations on Federal Agent Use of Force: Senator Duckworth sent a letter to the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) requesting the office act expeditiously.This link opens in new window or tab. to deploy criminal investigators to Chicago alongside the Department of Justice (DOJ) OIG to review federal agents’ use of force during Operation Midway Blitz and asking the DHS OIG to immediately issue a preservation order to ensure that DHS personnel do not destroy or alter records, documents or data relevant to Operation Midway Blitz in the interim.
Pushing Back on Detentions of U.S. Citizens in the FBI Chicago Field Office: Senator Duckworth sent two letters.This link opens in new window or tab. to DOJ regarding constituent reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is housing U.S. citizens detained by DHS in the FBI Chicago Field Office. The first letter to FBI Director Kash Patel demanded he stop using FBI facilities and resources to support and obscure arrests of U.S. citizens by DHSThis link opens in new window or tab.. The second letter to the DHS OIG demanded it launch an investigation.This link opens in new window or tab. into the legality of FBI’s role in DHS arrests of U.S. citizens.
Preventing Civil Immigration Enforcement near Schools: Senator Duckworth led seven of her Senate colleagues in writing to This link opens in new window or tab.Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding the Trump Administration take immediate action to ensure DHS stops conducting aggressive, extreme and dangerous civil enforcement activities within 1,000 feet of any school properties.
Demanding DOD OIG Investigation into Domestic Military Deployments: Senator Duckworth signed a letter.This link opens in new window or tab. by Senator Durbin calling for a DoD IG investigation into domestic deployments.
Holding a Webinar for State Officials on Domestic Military Deployments: The Office of Senator Duckworth hosted a webinar for local elected officials with legal experts on National Guard deployments and implications for both elected officials and their constituents. Panelists included former Congressman and Adjutant General of Illinois William L. Enyart and representatives from The Brennan Center for JusticeThis link opens in new window or tab., American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)This link opens in new window or tab. and The Chamberlain NetworkThis link opens in new window or tab..
Demanding Investigations into Use of Force Incidents in Operation Midway Blitz: Senator Duckworth sent a letter to the Inspectors General at DHS and DOJ calling for an independent, joint investigationThis link opens in new window or tab. into the use of force incidents by Federal law enforcement during Operation Midway Blitz.
Demanding Body-Worn Cameras on ICE Agents: Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin wrote a letterThis link opens in new window or tab. demanding that the DHS Office of Professional Responsibility act immediately to ensure all Customs and Border Protection (CBP) law enforcement officers assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wear and activate body-worn cameras when carrying out civil immigration enforcement operations in Illinois, in compliance with agency policy and a lawful order.This link opens in new window or tab. from a Federal judge.
Curbing Diversion of DOJ Resources to Immigration Enforcement: Senator Duckworth sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem demanding they immediately stop diverting DOJ staff and resources.This link opens in new window or tab. away from the investigation and prosecution of violent criminals, illicit drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism and other core public safety missions to instead assist DHS with civil immigration enforcement.
Protecting Chicago Harbor Lock from Use by DHS: Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Hegseth asking him to prevent the DHS from using Chicago Harbor Lock.This link opens in new window or tab.—a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works facility—for federal immigration enforcement operations without the consent of the local elected officials and a formal memorandum of understanding with USACE. The Senator wrote this letter after armed DHS officers used Chicago Harbor Lock to patrol the Chicago River.
Demanding Investigation into Shootings of Civilians by DHS Agents: Senator Duckworth joined Illinois Congressional Democrats, led by U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-2), in a letter to the DHS OIG demanding answers about its planned responseThis link opens in new window or tab. to two recent shootings of civilians by DHS agents in Chicago.
Demanding Accountability on Domestic Deployments During NDAA on the Floor: Senator Duckworth offered National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Amendment #3210This link opens in new window or tab., which would curtail military support to law enforcement for a roll call vote when NDAA floor votes begin.
- Although her amendment failed with a 46-52 vote, Senator Duckworth used the opportunity to speakThis link opens in new window or tab. again on the floor about the importance of reform to this type of use of the military.
Blocking Passage of Senate Defense Bill for First Time: Senator Duckworth voted no on passage of the Senate NDAA in objection to President Trump’s abuse of the military, collaborating with Senator Durbin and the other affected delegations in California and Oregon. This link opens in new window or tab.Senator Duckworth released a statementThis link opens in new window or tab. explaining her opposition to final passage of the NDAA—the first time she did so since she was first elected to Congress in 2012.
Blocking Senate Defense Bill until Senate Republicans Agreed to a Hearing on Domestic Deployments: Senator Duckworth placed a hold on the NDAA timing agreement hotlineThis link opens in new window or tab., as she opposed expediting consideration of the NDAA unless SASC agrees to hold the open hearing on Trump’s abuse of the military for domestic deployments that she led all her Democratic colleagues in requesting. As a result, she succeeded in securing an agreement from the SASC Chairman to hold an open hearing before the end of 2025.This link opens in new window or tab.
Speaking Out Against Domestic Misuse of the Military on the Senate Floor: Senator Duckworth led her colleagues in a floor blockThis link opens in new window or tab. opposing Donald Trump’s abuse of the military in these domestic deployments. Senator Duckworth also published an op-ed in Fox News This link opens in new window or tab.underscoring how Trump’s misuse the military is an un-American effort to stifle dissent, which ultimately harms the military without reducing crime.
Opposing Trump’s Threats to Jail Illinoisian Elected Officials: Senator Duckworth joined most of the Illinois delegation in releasing a statement This link opens in new window or tab.opposing Trump’s un-American threats to jail Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson.
Demanding Accountability from Legal Architect of National Guard Domestic Deployments: During a full committee SASC nomination hearing, Senator Duckworth questioned the Army General Counsel nomineeThis link opens in new window or tab., Charles Young III, on his role in providing legal opinions on these unconstitutional deployments. During this hearing, Senator Duckworth called for unanimous consent to hold an open hearing, in line with the request she led her colleagues in making of the Chairman weeks earlier.
Speaking to Constituents about Trump’s Threats to Deploy the Military: Senator Duckworth directly addressed some of her constituents’ concerns about Trump’s threats to deploy the military to Illinois during a telephone town hallThis link opens in new window or tab..
Demanding Accountability for ICE Shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez: Senator Duckworth joined U.S. Representative Chuy García (D-IL-04), Senator Durbin and Illinois Congressional Democrats in a letter to ICEThis link opens in new window or tab. highlighting inconsistencies in DHS’ account of an ICE officer’s fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez during a traffic stop. The Members of Congress demanded an immediate investigation by the DHS Inspector General and Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties into the shooting.
Demanding Answers from DHS on Operation Midway Blitz and Broadview: Senator Duckworth joined Illinois Congressional Democrats, led by U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), in a letter requesting a meeting with ICE’s Chicago Field Office Director This link opens in new window or tab.to discuss Operation Midway Blitz and conditions at the ICE Broadview Processing Facility, after ICE denied numerous requests to visit the facility made by multiple members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.
Demanding a SASC Hearing on Domestic Deployments: Senator Duckworth led her SASC Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman WickerThis link opens in new window or tab., formally requesting an open hearing on Trump’s abuse of the military in American cities.
Protecting Naval Station Great Lakes from Misuse by DHS: Senator Duckworth, Senator Durbin and U.S. Representative Schneider (D-IL-10) followed up on their visit to Naval Station Great Lakes with a letter to Secretary Hegseth and Secretary NoemThis link opens in new window or tab., for written answers to the questions they raised during their visit.
Filing an Amicus Brief Against the Trump Administration’s Misuse of the Military: Senator Duckworth joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Durbin and 15 of her other colleagues in filing an amicus brief This link opens in new window or tab.with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the lawsuit brought against President Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military earlier this year.
Conducting Oversight Visit to Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL): Senator Duckworth, Senator Durbin and Congressman Schneider conducted an oversight visit to Naval Station Great Lakes to investigateThis link opens in new window or tab. DHS use of the base. While NSGL leadership was very cooperative, the Members of Congress were denied entry to the building be used by DHS personnel, who had locked the doors and fled the base for the day.
Announcing Amendments to Combat Trump Administration’s Domestic Misuse of the Military: In response to threats to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, Senators Duckworth and Durbin announced seven joint amendmentsThis link opens in new window or tab. to the FY26 defense bill to establish responsible guardrails for when the military can be used domestically, curb misuse of DoD resources and allow for greater oversight by elected representatives. These amendments would ensure our military can remain focused on its core missions and prevent the President from politicizing and misusing our Armed Forces for their own gain.
Calling on the Trump Administration to Suspend Domestic Deployment Plans: Senator Duckworth, Senator Durbin, Congresswoman Ramirez and other members of the Illinois delegation sent a letterThis link opens in new window or tab. demanding that Trump and the DoD suspend plans for the deployment of military personnel to Chicago.
Introducing Legislation that Demands Guardrails on Military Support to Law Enforcement at Home: Senator Duckworth introduced the Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act This link opens in new window or tab.to curb misuse of the military for civilian law enforcement and enhance Americans’ ability to hold the military accountable and preserve their civil rights. The bill would require Congressional approval for indirect military support to civilian law enforcement (including allowing the use of military facilities and bases to detain individuals), prohibit simultaneous service of any DoD employee in a civilian law enforcement agency (except for Reserves) and require the military to clearly identify themselves and their organizations any time they are supporting civil authorities.

Duckworth has also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that would rein in Donald Trump’s misuse of the military, including:

The Protect our Polls Act: In the midst of Trump’s threats to deploy the military around polling places, Senator Duckworth is a co-sponsor of Senator Slotkin’s Protect our Polls ActThis link opens in new window or tab., which would protect the integrity of American elections from federal interference by armed military or federal law enforcement. This legislation would limit the President’s ability to deploy the military or federal law enforcement to polling places or to seize election material.
The No Troops in Our Streets Act: Senator Duckworth is an original co-sponsor of Senator Slotkin’s No Troops in Our Streets ActThis link opens in new window or tab., which would put limits on the Trump Administration’s ability to deploy the National Guard into American cities, while dedicating $1 billion to fight crime in American communities. This legislation would allow Congress the ability to stop a military deployment at home with a simple majority of votes, at any time.
The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard (SUN) Act: Senator Duckworth is a co-sponsor of Senator Padilla’s Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard (SUN) Act,This link opens in new window or tab. which would require the President to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 15 days of deploying the National Guard for civilian law enforcement support, except in the case of a natural disaster.
The Insurrection Act: Senator Duckworth is a co-sponsor of Senator Richard Blumenthal’s Insurrection Act of 2025This link opens in new window or tab., which would reform the Insurrection Act to narrow the criteria of when the President can use the military for law enforcement—to make it a last resort—and require Congressional approval.