Since September, Evanston has experienced an influx in activity from federal immigration agencies, with several community members taken by agents in the fall.
In 2026, the first verified alert of federal immigration activity in the city came on March 9.
The city first informed residents it expected ICE agents in Evanston in a Sept. 8 statement.
The agents’ presence is part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area, first announced in September.
This page will be updated with credible reports of federal immigration enforcement in the city. Updates will be posted as activity is confirmed by official government sources at the local, state and federal levels as well as through verified alerts from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. ICIRR operates a text alert system to inform community members about ICE sightings. According to ICIRR’s website, alerts are only issued when recent sightings are verified by an affiliated rapid response team.
In 2025, the city took several efforts to protect residents against federal agents, such as strengthening the Welcoming City ordinance. In October, City Council voted to establish “ICE free zones” on city property, and the city held a Community Preparedness & Empowerment Seminar.
“In short: ICE is not welcome in Evanston,” Mayor Daniel Biss wrote in an Oct. 17 email to residents.
The Evanston community has also taken action through community workshops, protests and nonprofit work. Community members protested after the fatal shootings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, hosted fundraisers for immigration rights organizations and called on major corporations to oppose federal immigration enforcement.
Many have encouraged reporting ICE activity by calling the ICIRR hotline at 855-435-7693.
To see where ICE activity is occurring in Evanston, The Daily created an interactive map that is updated in accordance with new verified alerts.
To read live updates from Oct. 21 to Dec. 17, click here. To read more live updates from Dec. 17, click here.
JUNE 3 — last updated 10:40 a.m.
Federal agents were seen in Morton Grove at the intersection of Emerson Street and Sayre Avenue around 8:30 a.m., according to a 10:18 a.m. ICIRR alert. The intersection is one block from Golf Middle School in Morton Grove.
The agents were spotted in three cars without license plates — a maroon Nissan Rouge, a Nissan Pathfinder and a Chevrolet Tahoe — according to ICIRR. One person was reported to have been pulled out of their car and taken by the federal agents, the alert read.
MAY 20 — last updated 5:05 p.m.
ICE agents were seen at the Walgreens on the corner of Green Bay Road and Simpson Street in Evanston around 4:20 p.m., according to a 4:52 p.m. ICIRR alert.
The agents were seen driving a gray Ford Explorer and a black Mitsubishi Outlander, according to ICIRR. No one was taken, and ICE agents remain in the area, the alert read.
APRIL 29 — last updated 11:21 a.m.
Federal agents were seen near 5360 West Touhy Ave. in Skokie at around 10:34 a.m., according to an 11:09 a.m. ICIRR alert. The agents were seen driving a black Nissan Pathfinder and a black Ford Explorer, according to the alert.
Agents did not take any individuals, but pulled someone over, the alert read. Agents are still believed to remain in the area, according to ICIRR.
MARCH 24 — last updated 1:41 p.m.
Rapid response teams were notified of possible ICE presence near Touhy Avenue and Le Claire Avenue in Skokie around 12 p.m., according to a 1:27 p.m. ICIRR alert. One person was questioned and then released, according to the alert.
Potential agents were seen driving six vehicles, including a black Sedan with flashing lights under the license plate, the alert read.
MARCH 9 — last updated 2:19 p.m.
Federal agents were seen in Park Ridge on Monday at around 1:07 p.m., according to an Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights alert at 1:59 p.m. The agents were traveling east on Oakton Street at Northwest Highway, the alert read. No arrests were made in Park Ridge, according to the alert.
Agents are driving a black Nissan Pathfinder and a black Dodge Ram with no plates, the alert read.
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