Noem releases highlight reel of raid that arrested American citizens set to Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

Source: The Independent

Thursday 18 September 2025 16:32 EDT


Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a bizarre highlight reel of an ICE raid that wrongfully detained two American citizens – set to a remix of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Noem shared overly dramatized footage of the “Operation Midway Blintz” ICE raid that she joined early Tuesday morning in Elgin, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The clip, captioned “We will not back down,” highlights the Trump administration’s ramped-up efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in the Windy City.

The video shows border patrol agents driving with Noem to what appeared to be a residential neighborhood. At one point, a bright light streaks across the video as agents blow the door off a home. Agents can later be seen walking away with a man in handcuffs.

The Nirvana-soundtracked raid resulted in the arrest of five undocumented migrants and the wrongful detainment of two American citizens, CBS News Chicago reported.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/kristi-noem-ice-raid-nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-b2829413.html