Additional Coverage:
Chicago Airspace Restricted Amid Immigration Raids, Raising Civil Liberties Concerns
Chicago’s airspace has been placed under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions at the request of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a move linked to ongoing immigration enforcement operations across the city. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) is set to remain in effect until October 12, citing unspecified “special security reasons.”
Under the new rules, individuals wishing to fly drones or other aircraft within the restricted zone must first obtain an approved special government interest airspace waiver. Violators face serious penalties, including the potential seizure, damage, or destruction of their property.
A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that these measures were implemented after the agency received a “credible threat of small, unmanned aircraft systems being used against law enforcement during Midway Blitz.” “Midway Blitz” is the DHS-led operation targeting and arresting immigrants in the Chicago area who lack permanent legal status.
These raids, which commenced in early September, have reportedly led to hundreds of arrests. Local residents have described disturbing scenes, with WBEZ reporting instances of federal agents removing individuals from their homes, sometimes while they were unclothed.
In response to the escalating situation, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) announced that 100 Illinois National Guard troops would be deployed across the state. Amid growing concerns, Governor Pritzker has encouraged citizens to document interactions with federal agents to help attest to their treatment.
However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has voiced strong opposition, suggesting the FAA restriction could hinder documentation efforts by both journalists and residents. In a public statement, the ACLU asserted, “The FAA’s ‘temporary flight restriction’ (TFR) comes amid abusive immigration raids in Chicago and President Trump’s authoritarian flooding of the city with National Guard troops and federal law enforcement agents.” They added, “That raises the sharp suspicion that it is intended not to ensure the safety of government aircraft, but… is yet another attempt to prevent reporters and citizens from recording the activities of the authorities.”
The restriction encompasses more than 935 square miles of Chicago airspace. This move follows a similar notice of flight constraints in Portland, Oregon, where the Trump administration has also pledged to deploy federal agents. The DroneXL outlet characterized the situation as “monopolizing airspace for government surveillance while preventing any civilian documentation of federal activities.”