HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Federal court dismisses majority of charges in Operation Midway Blitz citizen arrests

Dec 30, 2025 · Chicago, IL

Federal court dismisses majority of charges in Operation Midway Blitz citizen arrests

A Chicago Tribune analysis of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement operation, found that of 106 people arrested, only nine faced pending felony charges. The vast majority had charges dropped or never filed by prosecutors. Federal judges questioned agents' credibility, and a grand jury unusually refused to indict three defendants. Cases included a 70-year-old Air Force veteran, a man with intellectual disability, and multiple protesters arrested at demonstrations or in traffic altercations. Federal prosecutors acknowledged applying heightened standards due to concerns about jury nullification and the operation's chaotic enforcement pace.

Sources

More incidents in Illinois