End Wartime Tactics In American Cities

Stop the Use of Military-Style Tactics on Civilians In the early morning of September 30, 2025, federal agents stormed a South Shore apartment building in Chicago. According to residents and multiple reports, agents rappelled from helicopters, forced their way into apartments, and detained 37 people - including U.S. citizens and at least four children. DHS has admitted that only two of those detained were suspected gang members. This is not how law enforcement should operate in a democracy. These were families in their homes, not enemy combatants in a war zone. The trauma of this raid will linger for years, even for those not charged. Demand Full Transparency Despite the scale of this operation, the agencies involved have refused to release warrants, body-cam footage, or flight records. The next day, they secured an FAA order blocking drones from filming the area. DHS has linked this raid to “Operation Midway Blitz,” claiming 900 to 1,000 arrests statewide, yet it has released no detainee lists, warrants, or charging records. Without transparency, such numbers are meaningless and prevent the public from judging the legitimacy of this action. Protect Constitutional Rights What happened in Chicago raises urgent questions about Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as due-process rights. Families report that children and elderly members were forcibly removed. Using helicopters, flashbangs, and mass detentions in a civilian apartment building are methods associated with wartime - not domestic policing. If these tactics go unchallenged, they risk becoming routine and threaten not only those directly targeted but also all citizens who expect the Constitution to protect them at home. Demand Accountability, Hold Hearings, and Speak Out Now Please demand all warrants, after-action reports, body-cam logs, and detainee lists from this raid; call immediate hearings, subpoena records, and hold officials accountable; and speak out publicly against the use of military-style raids on American communities. Members of Congress must show leadership not only through legislation but also in words, making clear that this conduct is unacceptable. Legislation is urgently needed: restrict aerial assaults and mass detentions in residential buildings, mandate rapid reporting to Congress, and create a clear legal remedy for rights violations. Without such safeguards, these raids will set precedent for further escalation. If Congress fails to act, it will not just be Chicago at risk. Other cities may see the same tactics repeated, and each time the line between policing and war will blur further. This is a moment to reaffirm that the United States does not treat its own citizens as enemies and to restore public trust by insisting on accountability, transparency, and respect for constitutional limits.