BARRINGTON, Ill. — Reports of aggressive immigration enforcement across Chicagoland are raising practical questions in Barrington homes, workplaces and classrooms: What should you carry to prove who you are, and how should you respond if federal agents stop you?

The regional picture

In what federal officials have called “Operation Midway Blitz” under President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol have arrested hundreds of people in the Chicago area since last month. Chicago Tribune reporting describes U.S. citizens and legal residents swept into encounters, including a 44-year-old U.S. citizen who said agents zip-tied her after work at a downtown bar.

The woman, Maria Greeley, told the Tribune she had a copy of her passport with her. But because she’s Latina, she said the agents told her she “doesn’t look like” a Greeley and called her a liar. The agents let her go after an hour, she said. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Rogers Park, Rueben Antonio Cruz was ticketed $130 after agents said he did not have his resident status paperwork with him. And in Bensenville this summer, a community volunteer tucked red “Know Your Rights” cards into apartment doors — a reminder that the enforcement dragnet does not stop at Chicago’s city limits.

While the provided materials do not describe incidents in Barrington specifically, the stepped-up operations in the region — and the experiences of Chicagoland residents — offer clear guidance for local families, commuters and employers. According to U.S. Census Bureau data summarized in the provided materials, about 21% of Chicago’s population is foreign-born, a reality that shapes where and how enforcement unfolds across the metro area.

What the law says

Legal experts emphasize an important distinction. Under federal law, registered foreign nationals — such as lawful permanent residents — must carry proof of registration at all times. Prior to a second Trump administration, this requirement was rarely enforced, but recent encounters suggest renewed attention to documents on hand.

U.S. citizens, by contrast, are not required to carry identification. Still, Veronica Garcia, a senior staff attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, said some citizens might consider carrying a passport or a copy for quicker proof of identity “because they’re scared of being detained for how they look or where they live.”

“That is a really good question, especially in light of all the rights violations that ICE is doing. It’s hit or miss,” Garcia said. “There’s what you should carry and whether they’re going to take your proof of what you’re carrying as truth, like what happened with that woman who’s a U.S. citizen.”

What to carry — and what to leave at home

For lawful permanent residents, carrying proof of status remains a legal obligation. Garcia noted a practical risk calculation for everyone: originals, copies or phone images all come with trade-offs. If you lose your green card, replacing it can cost upward of $400. Some people worry that agents might misplace or damage an original passport or other document and opt to carry copies or photos instead.

Garcia cautioned that storing images on a phone can introduce privacy risks. “It can get a bit tricky to have … this on your phone because you would most likely need to unlock it and this can give access to more of your information than you want,” she said.

In addition to a “Know Your Rights” card (more below), Garcia said U.S. citizens could carry state identification. People with legal status — like a green card or a work permit — should carry those, she said. And she advised people to be mindful not to carry foreign passports.

The red card: small card, big protections

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center advises people — citizens and noncitizens — to carry a wallet-sized red “Know Your Rights” card that lists constitutional protections and simple scripts. The card advises:

  • DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
  • DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
  • DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
  • If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.
  • GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.

Garcia linked the rising demand for “papers” to broader profiling concerns. “Once they stop someone based on how they look … that’s very concerning. It’s a fine line to walk,” she said. “Today, it’s against a certain group of individuals. Who is next and what are they going to demand is shown next?”

If you are stopped

The guidance embedded in the red card and summarized by legal-aid experts offers a clear playbook for moments of stress on the street or at the door:

1) Ask if you are free to leave. If yes, walk away calmly.
2) Assert your right to remain silent and request an attorney.
3) Do not consent to searches of your person, belongings, phone or home without a warrant.
4) At home, do not open the door unless agents present a judicial warrant; ask to see it through a window or have it slid under the door.
5) Document the encounter as soon as possible — note names, badge numbers, time and place — and contact an attorney or legal aid.

For U.S. citizens who choose to carry identification, a passport or a copy can speed verification. For noncitizens, carrying the documents tied to your lawful status can help. Regardless of status, the right to remain silent and the right to consult an attorney are central.

Local concerns and preparedness

Nothing in the provided materials documents an immigration stop in Barrington during this enforcement surge. Still, the Rogers Park incident, the downtown detention and the Bensenville outreach show how quickly regional operations can ripple into suburban neighborhoods, retail corridors and commutes that Barrington residents frequent.

Community groups in the materials emphasize practical preparedness: distribute “Know Your Rights” cards, host briefings in multiple languages, and line up legal hotlines or rapid-response networks that can connect families to counsel and support if a loved one is detained. Standardizing how encounters are documented — and training volunteers to record times, locations and witnesses — can strengthen complaints and potential legal claims if rights are violated.

For individuals, a few steps can reduce confusion and risk:

  • Keep a red “Know Your Rights” card in your wallet and by the front door.
  • Store key documents securely; consider carrying copies if you worry about losing originals.
  • Weigh the convenience of phone images against privacy risks; think twice before unlocking a device during an encounter.
  • Maintain an emergency contact list with an attorney and a trusted family member.

A path forward

As enforcement intensifies across the metro area, residents in Barrington are weighing day-to-day choices about documents and digital privacy against the realities of on-the-spot questioning. Garcia’s point — that it can be “hit or miss” whether proof is accepted in the moment — underscores the value of preparation: know what the law requires, carry what makes sense for your risk, and rely on the simple, assertive language of the red card.

Barrington institutions — from congregations to service providers — can play a constructive role by sharing rights information and ensuring neighbors know where to turn for legal help. The operations now unfolding in Chicago offer a clear signal to suburbs: even without a local incident on record, the best time to prepare is before the knock at the door or the tap on the shoulder.