Illinois State Senator Karina Villa (D-25th District) has captured widespread attention after videos surfaced showing her confronting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during enforcement actions in West Chicago.
In one viral clip, Villa can be seen shouting: “Not in my city! Not in my city!”
State Senator Kooky Karina Villa may have broken several federal laws when she harassed ICE and warned illegal aliens to stay inside. @DHSgov you might want to take a look in the event laws were broken. pic.twitter.com/AxF6gXTyy7
— Kim “Katie” USA (@KimKatieUSA) September 15, 2025
She urged local residents to stay safe while remaining vigilant during the raids.
Advocating for Community Safety
Villa took to Facebook to advise families on precautions, urging them to stay home, avoid opening doors without a warrant, and document ICE activity using photos or videos. She emphasized the importance of solidarity:
“It’s very important, as allies, that we show up for each other.”
Particularly concerning to Villa were reports that ICE targeted parents during school drop-offs and pick-ups, prompting School District 33 in West Chicago to implement a “secure and teach” protocol, locking doors while continuing classes.
Videos Show ICE Activity
Throughout the day, social media clips showed ICE officers making arrests at various locations, including vans, grocery stores, and apartment complexes. In some videos, agents are seen breaking car windows and detaining individuals while neighbors voiced outrage and fear.
Villa actively walked through neighborhoods, encouraging residents to remain inside and not open doors. She partnered with other local officials and immigrant advocacy groups to call for community resistance against what she described as aggressive ICE tactics.
Criticism of Federal Policies
Villa also criticized President Trump’s immigration approach, stating:
“Donald Trump is seeing this community come together and resist and speak up and speak out, that is why he is targeting our cities, our state, our communities.”
Her outspoken stance has drawn both support from immigrant rights advocates and criticism from ICE.
ICE Responds
ICE condemned Villa’s actions, calling them “irresponsible and dangerous” for encouraging residents to interfere with lawful operations. The agency confirmed that several targeted arrests were made during Operation Midway Blitz, including one individual with a history of violence and resisting arrest.
