Daijiworld Media Network - Chicago
Chicago, Dec 14: In the windowless newsroom of The Phoenix, Loyola University Chicago’s student newspaper, the usual hum of campus journalism has taken on a new urgency. Instead of covering dorm life and festive events, student reporters are now documenting federal immigration raids near their campus, mapping confirmed sightings of immigration agents as fear spreads across immigrant communities in Chicago.
Juniors Julia Pentasuglio and Ella Daugherty spend hours updating a Google map, with each red pin marking a verified sighting of federal immigration officers around Loyola and nearby neighbourhoods. Editor-in-chief Lilli Malone scrolls through reports from Rogers Park, a culturally diverse area along the city’s lakefront, where students have reported masked agents, unmarked vans and arrests witnessed from dormitory windows.
The student journalists say their aim is to counter online rumours with verified information and give residents a clear picture of where enforcement activity has occurred. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his administration has ordered aggressive immigration sweeps in cities with large foreign-born populations, including Chicago, as part of a renewed push to deport undocumented immigrants.
In early September, the US Department of Homeland Security launched “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, deploying Border Patrol agents armed with high-powered weapons and tear gas. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticised the operation as “unlawful and unwarranted”, while a new state law now allows residents to sue federal agents if they believe their civil rights have been violated.
DHS has defended the operation, saying it targets violent criminals and has led to more than 4,300 arrests so far. “Our efforts remain ongoing. We aren’t leaving Chicago,” a DHS spokesperson said.
Fear had already been simmering on campus even before the operation began. False alarms, including a visit by a US Census Bureau official to a dorm, triggered rumours that immigration agents were present. Loyola University, which has long welcomed undocumented and DACA students, saw anxiety spike among its student body.
“People were scared, and they needed someone to verify what was real,” Malone said.
In response, The Phoenix team began systematically verifying reports through photos, videos and multiple eyewitness accounts before adding them to their map. Notes attached to each pin detail dates, locations and descriptions of the sightings. DHS later confirmed to Reuters that enforcement actions had taken place at several of the listed locations.
Similar efforts are underway across Chicago’s campuses. At the University of Chicago, The Maroon created its own tracker after social media platforms lit up with reports. DePaul University’s DePaulia relied on tips from students and residents as activity near its campus increased. Beyond campus, nonprofit outlet Block Club Chicago has launched an ICE-focused WhatsApp channel to share updates and “Know Your Rights” information with thousands of subscribers.
Journalists say the scale of immigration enforcement has also reshaped newsroom culture. Student reporters, independent outlets and legacy media are now collaborating, sharing tips, safety advice and verified information rather than competing for scoops.
“The story is too big, and there are too few journalists,” said Maira Khwaja of the Invisible Institute, a local journalism nonprofit. “More of us is better.”
Even established newsrooms have embraced collaboration. Editors at the Chicago Tribune say they now prioritise accuracy over speed, sharing insights with reporters in other cities facing similar enforcement actions.
“It still feels good to be first,” said senior editor Erika Slife. “But it’s more important to be right.”
For Chicago’s student journalists, the shift has been profound. What began as a response to campus fear has evolved into a grassroots information network, blurring the lines between student media, community reporting and professional journalism in a city on edge.