CHICAGO, IL — Shocking new footage has surfaced this week exposing the chaotic and violent reality of federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago, igniting a national firestorm over civil rights and press freedom. The viral video, which has amassed millions of views across social media in the last 48 hours, captures the moment federal agents forcibly threw a Democratic House candidate and a journalist to the pavement during the ongoing "Operation Midway Blitz." The release of this new angle comes just days after the State of Illinois filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, challenging the constitutionality of the massive operation that has resulted in over 400 arrests.
New Footage Reveals Brutal Tactics Against Candidate and Press
The harrowing video, released yesterday by bystander advocacy groups, offers the clearest view yet of the confrontation between ICE agents and Kat Abughazaleh, a prominent media personality and Democratic candidate for Illinois's 9th Congressional District. While initial reports of the incident circulated last fall, this newly surfaced high-definition angle contradicts earlier official accounts, appearing to show agents aggressively tackling Abughazaleh without provocation as she stood on a public sidewalk.
"This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights," Abughazaleh said in a statement accompanying the video's release. In the footage, Abughazaleh is seen wearing a protective mask and linking arms with other demonstrators before agents surge forward. A distinct moment in the clip shows an agent shoving a camera-wielding reporter—identified as a credentialed journalist covering the protest—into a parked vehicle before slamming them to the ground alongside the candidate.
Operation Midway Blitz: Over 400 Arrests and Counting
The incident is part of the controversial Operation Midway Blitz, a surge of federal immigration enforcement that has gripped Chicago since late 2025. According to updated figures confirmed this week, the operation has resulted in over 400 arrests, targeting what federal officials claim are "criminal illegal aliens" and gang members. However, the new video has fueled accusations that agents are indiscriminately targeting activists, journalists, and bystanders.
Community organizers in neighborhoods like Little Village and Brighton Park describe a "siege-like" atmosphere, with reports of unmarked vans and tactical teams operating near schools and daycares. "They aren't just looking for fugitives; they are terrorizing entire communities," said a spokesperson for a local immigrant rights coalition. The video has become a rallying cry for protesters who have maintained a presence outside the Broadview processing center, demanding accountability for the aggressive tactics on display.
State and City File Lawsuit Over "Unlawful" Raids
The timing of the video's viral explosion coincides with a major legal escalation. On January 12, 2026, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the City of Chicago filed a joint federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that federal agents have engaged in "unlawful and dangerous tactics" throughout the operation. The lawsuit cites specific instances of agents using chemical agents on peaceful crowds and conducting warrantless stops of U.S. citizens.
"Border Patrol agents and ICE officers have acted as occupiers rather than officers of the law," Raoul stated during a press conference earlier this week. The newly viral footage is expected to be entered as key evidence in the suit, potentially challenging the federal government's narrative that agents were responding to violent agitators.
Journalists in the Crosshairs
The tackling of the reporter in the video highlights a disturbing trend of press intimidation during the raids. Freedom of the press advocates have condemned the treatment of journalists covering Operation Midway Blitz. Several reporters, including Steve Held of Unraveled Press and employees from local TV stations, have been detained or physically handled by agents in recent months. The new video provides irrefutable proof of the physical risks reporters face while trying to document these federal operations.
What's Next: Looming Court Date
As the video continues to circulate, legal pressure is mounting. Kat Abughazaleh and five other co-defendants, indicted in October on charges of impeding federal officers, are due back in court on January 28. Supporters believe this new footage vindicates their claims of excessive force and are calling for the charges to be dismissed immediately.
With protests swelling and the federal lawsuit moving forward, the video has forced a national reckoning on the limits of federal power in sanctuary cities. As Chicago braces for more potential raids this weekend, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the streets—and the screens—watching for what happens next.
