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In Op-Ed, Katie Abraham’s Mother Rejects DHS Use of Her Name for Chicago Immigration Operation

The public rebuke underscores a family split over DHS’s naming of a Chicago enforcement campaign.

Overview

  • Denise Lorence wrote in the Chicago Tribune that her daughter "would not have wanted" to be linked to Operation Midway Blitz and objected to children witnessing arrests and militarized tactics.
  • DHS has said the Chicago-area initiative named in Katie Abraham’s honor has produced more than 1,800 arrests since it began in September and remains underway.
  • Joe Abraham supports the campaign’s naming, says he gave permission, and blamed sanctuary policies, and DHS shared his statement when asked for comment.
  • Katie Abraham, 20, was killed in January in Urbana; suspect Julio Cucul Bol was charged with leaving the scene, aggravated DUI resulting in death, and reckless homicide after initially using an alias.
  • Advocates and local officials have raised civil-liberties concerns, and a federal judge restricted officers from using riot control weapons against peaceful protesters and journalists.