ICYMI: Illinois Accountability Commission Recognized by County, City, and Community Leaders

Recent engagements underscored the importance of public documentation, community testimony, and civic dialogue in understanding immigration enforcement impacts.

CHICAGO - Over the past week, leadership and commissioners of the Illinois Accountability Commission were recognized and engaged at the county, city, and community levels for their work documenting the impact of Operation Midway Blitz, reflecting continued public dialogue surrounding the Commission's findings and final report. Activities included recognition from Cook County leadership for the Commission's efforts to create a public record of federal enforcement actions, participation in a City Council event recognizing community leadership during Asian American Heritage Month, and presentations at The People's Hearing on Immigration Enforcement: Chicago examining the civil rights impacts of immigration enforcement across Chicago communities.

AT THE COUNTY LEVEL

Last week, Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners presented the Illinois Accountability Commission, housed in the Illinois Department of Human Rights, with an honorary resolution recognizing the Commission, contributing witnesses, and all those impacted by "Operation Midway Blitz" for their efforts to document evidence and advance justice and accountability.

The resolution was presented to the leadership of the Illinois Accountability Commission as well as Governor JB Pritzker in recognition of their work to create a public record documenting the conduct of federal agents during "Operation Midway Blitz" and the Trump administration's military-style operations throughout the Chicago area.

"This resolution is a meaningful and important acknowledgement of the courage shown by impacted residents, witnesses, advocates, and community members who came forward to share their experiences," said Illinois Accountability Commission Executive Director Hina Mahmood. "The Commission's work was rooted in documenting the truth, elevating community voices, and ensuring that the lasting impact of 'Operation Midway Blitz' is preserved in the public record as we continue pursuing accountability and justice for Illinois communities."

To watch the Cook County Board Meeting resolution presentation, visit Board of Commissioners of Cook County - Board of Commissioners.

AT THE CITY LEVEL

Wednesday, May 20, Illinois Accountability Commission Executive Director Hina Mahmood was recognized by the Chicago City Council during its Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration for her leadership documenting the impacts of Operation Midway Blitz and advancing accountability efforts tied to federal immigration enforcement operations across Chicagoland. Remarks during the recognition highlighted the Commission's work examining allegations of racial profiling, excessive force, and broader harms experienced by families and communities during the operation.

AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL

Illinois Accountability Commission Executive Director Hina Mahmood also presented the Commission's findings at "The People's Hearing on Immigration Enforcement: Chicago," a public forum documenting the civil rights impact of federal immigration enforcement across the city. The forum was convened by civil rights and community organizations including the Hispanic Federation, Latino Victory Foundation, Latinos Progresando, Latino Policy Forum, the Miranda Family, and the Texas Civil Rights Project.

During her testimony, Executive Director Mahmood highlighted how Operation Midway Blitz was not a series of unrelated incidents. The Commission documented patterns across Chicago and the surrounding region, including masked and military-style operations, vehicle pursuits, use of force, chemical agents, discriminatory stops, warrantless arrests, lack of due process, and actions that created fear in homes, workplaces, public streets, and community spaces. Individual reports, videos, testimony, and community experiences were also included in the formal public record.

Executive Director Mahmood also explained that documentation is not the end goal. It is the foundation for accountability. The Commission created a formal record, and this hearing helps bring that record back to the public, connect it to community testimony, and carry it into broader civil rights, oversight, and policy conversations.

"The Illinois Accountability Commission was the first state-level effort of its kind to systematically investigate alleged federal law enforcement misconduct tied to a large-scale immigration enforcement operation," said Hina Mahmood, Executive Director of the Illinois Accountability Commission. "This Commission showed that states and public institutions do not have to look away when communities come forward with credible allegations of abuse-they can document and preserve evidence to create public records that will help lay the groundwork for future accountability."

To further amplify the Commission's work, IAC Co-Chair Rubén Castillo and Commissioner Linda Tortolero spoke at the press conference prior to the event.

"The work of the Illinois Accountability Commission illustrated the impact of what occurred during Operation Midway Blitz," said Rubén Castillo, Chair of the Illinois Accountability Commission. "But their terror is far from over. Although we are not seeing federal agents parading around in full military warfare gear, I am getting reports that they are seizing people at courthouses. There is a direct line from the White House to the streets of Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York City-and this needs to stop now."

"No one can truly rewrite history when the people who lived it refuse to be silent," said Latino Policy Forum President & CEO, Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, who also served on the Illinois Accountability Commission. "By documenting testimony about the violence and injustices committed by federal immigration enforcement in Illinois during Operation Midway Blitz, directly from those who lived it, we are ensuring that the truth will endure. A reckoning will come and the report from the Illinois Accountability Commission and the one that will be created from the testimony we heard today, will be here so that our communities get the justice they deserve."

To learn more about "The People's Hearing on Immigration Enforcement: Chicago," visit hispfed.info/CHIforum.

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

On April 30, 2026, the Illinois Accountability Commission issued its final report to the Governor and the People of Illinois in alignment with requirements outlined in Executive Order 2025-06 and submitted the report and a referral letter to the Cook County State's Attorney, Kane County State's Attorney, Chicago Police Department, Evanston Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and Elgin Police Department. This action followed the conclusion of its public hearings that revealed never-before-seen footage and brand-new eyewitness testimony from specific incidents targeting Illinoisans.

To view the letter and the full report, visit ilac.illinois.gov/final-report.