IL Accountability Commission on Midway Blitz calls for rogue federal officers to face prosecution

CHICAGO (WLS) — A special commission appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to review the actions of federal agents in Operation Midway Blitz is calling for rogue officers to face prosecution. Leaders believe legal action is crucial for public accountability.

The Illinois Accountability Commission submitted its first formal report to the governor. It includes recommendations to help state and local law enforcement to investigate misconduct by federal immigration officials when federal authorities don’t or won’t.

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The aggressive tactics used during Operation Midway Blitz sparked fears, frustrations and considerable pushback from community members where those raids took place. Those actions have also raised serious questions about the legality and legitimacy of the federal enforcement actions.

“Legitimacy is not about liking the government, it’s about believing that the government is using force to protect you, rather than protect itself,” University of Chicago Political Science Professor Robert Pape said.

The Illinois Accountability Commission heard testimony Friday from expert witnesses in order to make recommendations to the governor for how the state could provide more accountability for alleged misconduct.

“We will focus light on all this evil,” said Hon. Ruben Castillo, Commission Chairman.

The commission chairman contended that if the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez last fall during an ICE traffic stop in Franklin Park had resulted in disciplinary action, then perhaps the pair of deadly shootings this month in Minneapolis might not have happened.

“Definitely, it seems we need some changes in state law to encourage local officials to actually prosecute agents who are conducting misdeeds, because it seems like the federal government is not going to do that,” Castillo said.

READ MORE | Illinois Accountability Commission holds 1st meeting on claims of abuse in ‘Operation Midway Blitz’

“This moment for Chicago, Minneapolis and the country will not be resolved by escalation, it will be resolved restraint, transparency and accountability,” Pape said.

Legal experts noted that the Constitution protects everyone, not just U.S. citizens, and that it needs to be upheld.

“Because a Constitution that does not protect everyone will eventually protect no one,” University of Chicago Law School Professor Nicole Hallett said.

Witnesses are hoping the commission’s work leads to real change.

“This commission is important, because it’s using the positive power of government to shine a light on the negative power of government, and that’s what we need,” said Marty Castro, former chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The commission submitted its first report Friday, which was 72 pages long.

Friday’s testimony will be part of a follow-up report as the commissioners continue their work in the months ahead.