Politics
Chicago ballot asks whether city should seek federal reimbursement for immigration operation’s costs
A nonbinding question on Chicago ballots asks whether the city should pursue compensation from the federal government for costs and economic harm tied to Operation Midway Blitz. A University of Illinois Chicago study estimated heightened immigration enforcement was associated with $1.26 billion in forgone business spending and about $107 million in lost local sales-tax revenue.
Chicago voters will be asked whether the city should use lawful means to seek financial compensation from the federal government for the effects of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement campaign carried out in the late summer and early fall of 2025. The ballot question is advisory and would not require city officials to take action.
The question asks whether Chicago should seek reimbursement for lost tax revenue, public-safety response costs and services provided to residents and families affected by what it describes as the Trump administration’s “violent, militarized” immigration operations. It specifically names Operation Midway Blitz, led by Border Patrol official Greg Bovino.
The ballot language does not identify a legal strategy, and the city’s potential avenues for recovering money remain unclear.
The financial stakes extend beyond the city budget. A study by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute estimated that businesses and retail shops in the Chicago area experienced $1.26 billion in forgone spending during the first year of heightened immigration enforcement in the region. The study also estimated roughly $107 million in foregone local sales-tax revenue.
Researchers found that residents in neighborhoods with relatively large shares of Latin America-born residents made fewer trips to retail stores and restaurants in parts of Cook County.
Operation Midway Blitz drew national attention in 2025 amid clashes between federal agents and protesters. Federal documents indicate that more than 4,000 people were taken into custody during the operation, according to NBC News reporting.
The immigration enforcement question is one of three nonbinding measures on Chicago ballots. Voters will also be asked whether the city should resume using gunshot-detection technology, which Mayor Brandon Johnson moved to end in 2024, and whether Chicago should develop a permanent festival and outdoor event space. Some city leaders have raised concerns about disruptions from large events such as Lollapalooza and Riot Fest.