The Sept. 18 editorial “ICE must leave US citizens alone” deliberately spread lies about federal law enforcement while ignoring the thousands of Americans who have been victimized by illegal immigrant crime.

Instead of recognizing the risks law enforcement takes to get dangerous criminals off the streets, the Tribune Editorial Board attacked officers and agents for carrying out standard law enforcement practices.

Here are the facts. During an operation in Elgin on Sept. 16, federal law enforcement executed a warrant on a house as part of Operation Midway Blitz, which honors illegal immigrant crime victim Katie Abraham. The Donald Trump administration launched this operation to protect Americans from the criminal illegal immigrants shielded by Illinois’ sanctuary policies. Officers and agents arrested five illegal immigrants, including individuals convicted or arrested for crimes such as a DUI with a child passenger, violent assault, domestic violence and felony stalking.

While executing the warrant, law enforcement temporarily secured two U.S. citizens who were in the house at the time. This is standard practice for all law enforcement. Breaching buildings is dangerous business. Securing all individuals in a house while executing a warrant is standard because it protects those who are not the intended target of the warrant. People often act erratically during police operations and jeopardize the safety of all involved. Securing non-targets decreases the likelihood of that danger.

The Tribune’s editorial board members should know full well that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are facing a 1,000% increase in attacks, just as we saw over the weekend at the Broadview processing facility. Violent rioters slashed tires and threw bottles, rocks and fireworks at law enforcement officers. Brazen lies such as the ones in Wednesday’s editorial contribute directly to this increase.

Department of Homeland Security law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day to keep Americans safe. The Tribune Editorial Board should be thanking the men and women who are cleaning up our communities and restoring the rule of law.

Rapists, murderers, pedophiles and other dangerous criminal illegal immigrants are now off Illinois’ streets because of these officers. No American should be forced to share their community with criminals who shouldn’t even be here in the first place. President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem are standing up for the rule of law everywhere. They are protecting law-abiding Americans and law enforcement officers while doing so. An honest account of the facts would show that.

— Todd Lyons, acting director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Greg Bovino, chief patrol agent, El Centro Sector, U.S. Border Patrol

Relieved of hard work

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).

At the Charlie Kirk memorial, President Donald Trump said, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”

Now I see why so many evangelical Christians are supportive of Trump’s presidency. He has relieved them of a whole lot of hard work, forgiveness and love. They can just hate lots of folks now and be saved in the kingdom of Trump.

— Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah

Love for all humankind

Let’s all be clear. Charlie Kirk was a MAGA martyr, not a Christian martyr. As a Christian, I take offense at the notion that he displayed the attributes of a Christian martyr.

As a devotee of MAGA, Kirk opposed diversity, equity and inclusion. The Christian denomination to which I belong, ELCA — as well as all so-called mainline churches — embrace the diversity of all humankind and believe that all are entitled to be treated with equity, and all are included in God’s family.

The God in which we believe abounds in steadfast love for all humankind.

— Janet Kittlaus, Glenview

A disdain for laws

I applaud the Tribune Editorial Board for the editorial concerning Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s stance on law and order (“Mayor Johnson twice undercuts Chicago’s fight against crime,” Sept. 23). To have a mayor of a major city proclaim his disdain for the police and law and order is unprecedented in the history of this country.

How did it come to this?

One reason might be the disdain the general public and many major media organizations show toward the existing laws of this country. An example of this disdain are the protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers doing their job apprehending immigrants.

If we the people don’t agree with a law, we have the right and the power to change it. We don’t have the right to break the law and cause harm to the people enforcing it.

— Kevin Daket, Houston, Texas

Hardworking taxpayers

Instead of our present government trying to deport every Mexican immigrant, maybe they should try to make more of them American citizens. Most are hardworking taxpayers and have been here for years.

Since America annexed at least 50% of Mexico in the 19th century, it’s the least we can do.

— Andrew Kachiroubas, Chicago

Indigenous understand

There is a great deal of truth to President Donald Trump’s statement to the United Nations, that mass immigration ruins a country. Just ask the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

— Linda Workman, Naperville

Entertainment we need

One of the many things we need now is entertainment that puts immigrants in a good light. Something like a TV show or movie similar to the old “I Remember Mama” or “The Goldbergs.” Another possibility would be a documentary showing the achievements of immigrants that have made life now better.

— Alice Solovy, Highland Park

Thankful for the fighters

My dad is the definition of a true patriot in my eyes. He takes so much pride in casting his vote (even by mail) in every election, he proudly served the country in the Navy and he gives generously to organizations that aid people when they need help. And let me tell you, if you do not fly your flag on Flag Day or other appropriate holidays, you will hear about it from him!

He is an avid reader of news and, even in his 90s, keeps up with current events. He has submitted several letters to the editors and various members of Congress and even the president. Recently, I took him for a haircut, and the barber draped a cape over him with the image of the flag on it. He asked for a different one because he felt it was disrespectful to the flag to use for hair clippings, something neither the barber nor I thought of but do see his point. I learn a lot from watching him.

The other day, I heard him tell someone else that he feels like we are headed toward a dictatorship. The other person agreed. This broke my heart.

I thank the people fighting for our democracy and freedoms. This includes the journalists who ask the hard questions to President Donald Trump and then get told they are no good. They seem to have hit a nerve. This also includes the comedians who simply give us the opportunity to laugh at something we all see with our own eyes. I’m thankful for the fighters.

I really hope my dad lives long enough to see us get out of this mess we are currently in.

— Diane Bown, Joliet

A clash of two forces

In the 2026 midterm election, two colossal forces will clash.

The first force is a voter backlash after political violence, and it will benefit Republicans after the very public assassination of a national figure, Charlie Kirk.

The second force is a strong historical pattern: The best indicator of which party will win the midterm election is the party that lost the most recent presidential election. In this pattern, unaffiliated voters (an actual majority) bounce from one minority party to the other to let the party temporarily in power know that it does not have a mandate. This pattern would otherwise favor Democrats.

It will be fascinating to watch.

— Michael P. Shannon, Park Ridge

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/26/letters-092625-ice-immigration/