The Fight

Since April 2026, federal immigration agents have conducted civil immigration arrests at Cook County courthouses at least seven times — including at the Domestic Violence Courthouse — in apparent violation of Illinois law banning such arrests. The confrontation has triggered a petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and potentially charge federal agents for state law violations, a conflict-of-interest scandal involving the Cook County State’s Attorney, and a broader statewide accountability investigation.

Illinois passed the Way Forward Act (2021), which bars local law enforcement from honoring ICE civil detainers and limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Courthouse arrest protections are part of this legislative framework. ICE’s continued courthouse arrests represent a direct challenge to Illinois sovereignty over its own judicial spaces.

Timeline

• 2025-Fall: Operation Midway Blitz — Trump administration’s sweeping Chicago-area immigration enforcement campaign — begins, generating dozens of complaints about racial profiling, warrantless stops, and illegal detention.
• 2026-April: ICE makes arrests at Cook County courthouses, including at the Domestic Violence Courthouse. By late April, at least seven courthouse-area ICE encounters are documented, three resulting in arrests. Advocates warn the pattern is deterring domestic violence victims from seeking court protection.
• 2026-04-06: Elected officials and advocates hold press conference warning of ICE targeting the Domestic Violence Courthouse — the fifth documented courthouse incident in approximately one month.
• 2026-04-21: Chicago Sun-Times publishes emails showing State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke declined to publicly denounce the Trump administration during the lead-up to Operation Midway Blitz because she wanted to “maintain” ties with federal law enforcement — revealing a conflict of interest at the center of the special prosecutor petition.
• 2026-04-24: Sun-Times reports a ruling on the special prosecutor petition is expected within weeks.
• 2026-04-30: Illinois Accountability Commission releases final report detailing federal agents’ “illegal and violent conduct” during Operation Midway Blitz.
• 2026-05-11: Judge Erica Reddick scheduled to rule on petition to appoint special prosecutor for Operation Midway Blitz abuses.

The Special Prosecutor Fight

A petition before Cook County Circuit Judge Erica Reddick asks the court to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and charge federal agents for alleged criminal conduct during Operation Midway Blitz — including courthouse arrests, warrantless detentions, and civil rights violations.

The petition gained urgency when the O’Neill Burke emails revealed that the sitting State’s Attorney was diplomatically deferential to federal authorities during the very enforcement campaign her office would now be expected to prosecute. Petitioners argue this conflict of interest makes independent appointment of a special prosecutor necessary.

Cook County State’s Attorney O’Neill Burke subsequently announced a protocol to criminally charge ICE agents who break state law — a face-saving response that critics argue came too late and only after political pressure.

State Legal Framework

Illinois passed multiple laws creating the framework being tested:

• Way Forward Act (2021): Bars local law enforcement from honoring ICE civil detainers; limits cooperation with federal enforcement
• Courthouse civil immigration arrest prohibition: Part of a state policy that courthouses are protected spaces — a “safe access” principle intended to ensure crime victims and witnesses can access the courts without fear of immigration enforcement
• HB 5024 (pending Senate): Would ban new federal detention facilities within 1,500 feet of homes, schools, churches, parks, and cemeteries — a next-layer response to Broadview

Key Actors

• Judge Erica Reddick: Cook County Circuit Court; will rule May 11 on special prosecutor petition
• Eileen O’Neill Burke: Cook County State’s Attorney; conflict-of-interest emails compromised her office’s position
• IL AG Kwame Raoul: Involved in broader state enforcement framework and oversight litigation
• ICE Chicago Field Office: Conducting courthouse arrests in apparent defiance of state law
• Illinois Accountability Commission: Released final report April 30 documenting illegal federal conduct during Midway Blitz

Sources

• IPM Newsroom: Legal battle intensifies over appointing special prosecutor for Operation Midway Blitz abuses
• Chicago Sun-Times: O’Neill Burke wanted to ‘maintain’ ties with feds, emails show (April 21, 2026)
• Chicago Sun-Times: Ruling on special prosecutor expected in coming weeks (April 24, 2026)
• WJBC: Officials warn ICE targeting Cook County domestic violence courthouse (April 6, 2026)
• Pantagraph: Mid-May ruling set for special prosecutor demand
• WTTW: Illinois Commission Details Federal Agents’ Illegal Conduct in Final Report on Operation Midway Blitz (April 30, 2026)