South Shore Residents Return to ‘Hell’ After Federal Raid Leaves Apartments Ransacked and Looted
South Shore Residents Return to ‘Hell’ After Federal Raid Leaves Apartments Ransacked and Looted
SOUTH SHORE, Chicago – Residents of a 130-unit apartment building at 7500 S. South Shore Drive are grappling with the devastating aftermath of a large-scale federal immigration raid conducted early Tuesday morning, September 30, 2025. Many returning residents found their homes ransacked, doors busted open, and valuables stolen, describing the scene as “looking like hell.”
Federal agents, including those from ICE, FBI, and DHS, descended upon the building in U-Haul trucks, with some reportedly landing on the roof from helicopters, around 2 a.m. Residents were woken, handcuffed with zip ties, and led into unmarked vans. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed at least 37 arrests, claiming the operation targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. NewsNation was reportedly invited along for the operation.
However, accounts from residents paint a picture of chaos and alleged misconduct. U.S. citizen Rodrick Johnson reported being detained for hours without explanation, only to return and find his door kicked in and personal belongings exposed. Other residents, including an Army veteran who recently went blind, described agents busting doors and leaving apartments unsecured. Brandon Lee of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights expressed concern that many, including women and children, were taken without warrants, criticizing the operation as a PR effort.
By Wednesday afternoon, October 1, the building appeared largely abandoned, bearing the scars of the raid. Broken windows, water-damaged ceilings, and widespread debris marked the property. Dan Jones, a resident, returned to find his apartment looted, with everything from his mattress to his iPad missing. “ICE really just a gang,” Jones lamented, highlighting the profound impact on residents, many of whom are Venezuelan migrants who had found a home there.
The raid exacerbated pre-existing issues at the property, which had faced numerous building code violations and a foreclosure lawsuit against its owner. While residents acknowledged prior poor conditions, the federal operation has left the building in an even more dire state, with some units displaying bloodstains, zip ties, and baby shoes amidst the destruction. Efforts to unionize tenants over deplorable conditions had been underway since August 2024, highlighting a history of neglect.
As residents like Jones struggle to comprehend the destruction and consider moving, the building’s management, Strength In Management, has reportedly begun securing entry points and issuing new keys to active tenants. The long-term implications for the affected residents and the South Shore community remain uncertain amidst the widespread devastation and calls for accountability.
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