Chicago Judge Denies Request for Special Prosecutor for Operation Midway Blitz Investigations
Judge Erica Reddick said petitioners failed to show an actual conflict, leaving federal immigration misconduct claims to local law enforcement.
- On Thursday, Cook County Judge Erica Reddick denied a petition for a special prosecutor to investigate federal immigration agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz, ruling petitioners failed to prove State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke had an "actual conflict of interest."
- A coalition of more than 400 attorneys, clergy members and officials accused Burke of abandoning her duties, alleging she refused to investigate widespread misconduct claims by federal agents during the 2025 immigration enforcement operation.
- While the court found "compelling" and "unprovoked" evidence of wrongdoing by federal agents, Reddick determined that established protocol requires local law enforcement to initiate investigations before the State's Attorney can intervene.
- Supporting Burke's position, the Illinois State Police recently began investigating the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, demonstrating that established procedures are functioning as the court determined.
- Future efforts to hold agents accountable face hurdles, as the Illinois Accountability Commission continues documenting allegations of "illegal and violent conduct" from the 2025 operation, fueling debates over proper oversight mechanisms.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Tracking every known federal prosecution in Chicago tied to Trump’s deportation blitz
Federal prosecutors in Chicago have accused 33 known defendants of nonimmigration crimes tied to Operation Midway Blitz. Many were accused of assaulting or resisting federal agents or officers.Two defendants have pleaded guilty. Twenty-four have been cleared. Grand jurors refused to indict at least three of the 24, and another member of that group was found not guilty at trial.Meanwhile, prosecutors have entered into deferred-prosecution agreeme…
Judge Denies Petition To Appoint Special Prosecutor To Probe ICE Abuses
Petitioners had argued that Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke turned a “blind eye” by not investigating federal immigration agents’ alleged crimes. "We don't rest with this outcome," one petitioner said.
Cook County Judge Rejects Push to Appoint Special Prosecutor to Investigate Alleged ICE Misconduct – WTTW (Chicago)
Judge Erica Reddick’s ruling Thursday came after more than 400 attorneys, clergy members, elected officials and community organizers accused Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke of abandoning her official duties in refusing to investigate widespread allegations of crimes committed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in and around Chicago. But Reddick found that it is law enforcement agencies, not the prosecutor’s office, t…
Judge denies petition for special prosecutor for Operation Midway Blitz investigation
A judge has denied a petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged crimes by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, despite a report from the Illinois Accountability Commission finding federal agents engaged in serious misconduct.
Cook County Judge Rejects Push to Appoint Special Prosecutor to Investigate Alleged ICE Misconduct
A Cook County judge has rejected calls for a special prosecutor to probe allegations of criminal misconduct committed by federal immigration agents after Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke refused to launch her own investigations.
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