Loevy and Loevy Coalition Petitions for Special Prosecutor to Investigate Federal Conduct During "Operation Midway Blitz"

Chicago law firm leads coalition of 200+ groups seeking an independent prosecutor to investigate ICE and Border Patrol conduct during Operation Midway Blitz.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 4:46 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from the Chicago Sun-Times.

Escalation of Accountability Efforts for Federal Surge

Legal and community leaders in Chicago are intensifying their efforts to hold federal law enforcement accountable for the aggressive immigration enforcement seen in late 2025. Loevy and Loevy, a law firm known for high-stakes civil rights litigation, announced on Monday that it has secured the support of more than 200 stakeholders for a petition to appoint an independent special prosecutor. The proposed appointee would operate outside the standard hierarchy of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, specifically tasked with reviewing evidence of physical violence and constitutional violations allegedly committed by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Friction with State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke

The demand for a special prosecutor highlights a growing rift between activists and Cook County’s top prosecutor, Eileen O’Neill Burke. For several weeks, O’Neill Burke has faced pressure to bring state-level charges against federal agents. While her office recently established a new "Federal Immigration Enforcement Action Response Protocol," she has cautioned that local prosecutors face significant jurisdictional hurdles and federal immunity defenses. The coalition argues that O’Neill Burke’s stance is too cautious, asserting that an independent prosecutor is necessary to ensure that "the badge is not a shield" and that cases are not stalled by political or bureaucratic hesitance.

Evidence from Operation Midway Blitz

The core of the petition rests on the events of "Operation Midway Blitz," a multi-agency federal surge that began in September 2025. During the operation, federal agents were accused of using excessive force, including the deployment of chemical agents and flashbang grenades against protesters and journalists outside the Broadview processing center. A federal judge’s previous ruling in a related civil case noted that video evidence often contradicted official federal reports of the clashes. The Loevy and Loevy coalition claims to have access to hundreds of hours of such footage and dozens of sworn declarations that they believe meet the threshold for criminal prosecution under Illinois law.