Flower vendor deported during Operation Midway Blitz
Sep 7, 2025·Location: Chicago, IL
Country of origin: Mexico
Leodegario Martínez Barradas, a flower vendor, was arrested by federal immigration agents in Chicago's Archer Heights neighborhood on September 7, 2025, during the launch of Trump's "Operation Midway Blitz" immigration enforcement operation. He was deported to Mexico within days. The Trump administration claims the operation targets criminal immigrants. Barradas had no known violent criminal record.
Sources
- Flower vendor arrested at launch of Trump’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ deported to Mexico
Chicago Tribune·Sep 12, 2025·archived copy
- thederrick.com
- Vendedor de flores arrestado en el lanzamiento de la 'Operación Midway Blitz' de Trump es deportado a México
es-us.noticias.yahoo.com·Sep 16, 2025·archived copy
- Operation Midway Blitz
en.wikipedia.org·Sep 9, 2025·archived copy
- Operation Blumenpflücken
en.wikipedia.org·Jul 5, 2010·archived copy
More incidents in Illinois
- Woman shot seven times by Border Patrol agent sues after charges droppedOct 5, 2026 · Chicago, IL
- Man mistaken for fugitive beaten and detained by ICE agents in Evanston, hospitalizedOct 4, 2026 · Evanston, IL
- ICE arrests eight men in Woodstock and Waukegan, Illinois enforcement operationsSep 25, 2026 · Waukegan, IL
- DACA recipient held by ICE for 7 months, son didn't recognize herSep 22, 2026 · Broadview, IL
- Federal agents repeatedly use tear gas, pepper spray on protesters at Broadview ICE facilitySep 19, 2026 · Broadview, IL
- Fear of ICE raids cost Chicago-area businesses $1.26 billion, study findsSep 8, 2026 · Chicago, IL