Governor Pritzker Condemns Operation Midway Blitz One Year Later

Governor J.B. Pritzker and local officials gathered in Chicago on September 15 and 16, 2026, to mark the one-year anniversary of Operation Midway Blitz. Pritzker characterized the federal immigration enforcement campaign as an occupation, citing University of Illinois Chicago research that estimated the operation caused $1.26 billion in lost restaurant and retail activity in Cook County and a $107 million drop in local sales tax revenue. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disputed these findings, arguing that removing criminals makes communities safer for businesses.

The events highlighted severe human trauma, including the shooting of teacher's aide Marimar Martinez and the fatal shooting of Mexican citizen Silverio Villegas González by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Franklin Park. Pritzker accused the Trump administration of obstructing the Illinois State Police investigation into the death of Villegas González by withholding witness testimony and body camera footage.

To address agent misconduct, Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission. While the commission has made referrals for prosecutions, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has not initiated charges, citing a lack of legal authority. In addition to these efforts, State Representative Edgar Gonzalez noted new state protections in schools and hospitals and a private right of action for constitutional violations. Pritzker also announced that Illinois has joined a coalition suing the federal government to block a rule change by President Donald Trump that would expand public charge criteria for denying visas and green cards.