Can Illinois hold the feds accountable for immigration crackdown?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Consider This from NPR

Episode: Can Illinois hold the feds accountable for immigration crackdown?

Date: April 28, 2026
Host: Scott Detrow

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Overview

This episode of "Consider This" delves into Illinois' efforts to scrutinize and hold the federal government accountable for aggressive immigration enforcement carried out under "Operation Midway Blitz" in Chicago. The key focus is the Illinois Accountability Commission, established by Governor J.B. Pritzker to investigate and publicly record the impact and legality of the federal immigration crackdown. Through testimonies, legal analysis, and input from Governor Pritzker, the episode explores what accountability can look like when federal agents operate with wide-ranging immunity, the role of state government, and the implications for future elections.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Midway Blitz and the Illinois Accountability Commission

• [00:00 - 01:45]
  • The episode opens with a dramatic montage and testimonies reflecting the human toll of Operation Midway Blitz—a federal immigration crackdown in Chicago enacted under the Trump administration.
  • The Illinois Accountability Commission was created by executive order to catalog events, investigate abuses, and present public evidence.
  • Key testimony was shared by Jennifer Moriarty, an Evanston lawyer, who described being violently detained by federal agents for attempting to film their actions.
    • “One of the agents that were right there immediately turned around, grabbed me by the neck and threw me back on the ground and got on top of me, proceeded to try and handcuff me. I wasn’t resisting.” (Jennifer Moriarty, 01:16)

2. Personal Impact and the Erosion of Trust

• [02:03]
  • Moriarty highlighted her faith in law and order, shaken by the crackdown:
    • “Law and order. Everybody follows the rules. You know, it works out. And that's not what's happening now.” (Jennifer Moriarty, 02:03)

3. Scope and Findings of the Commission

• [04:26 - 06:31]
  • The commission, led by distinguished judges, conducted 16 investigations, interviewed 60 eyewitnesses, and reviewed over 100 hours of bodycam footage and 250 videos.
  • Governor Pritzker focused on the emotional impact of testimonies, emphasizing cases involving U.S. citizens and legal residents wrongly targeted based on appearance or accent.
    • “They were going after tackling brown, brown and black people, people with accents, people who are US Citizens and here legally, people who hadn't broken any laws.” (J.B. Pritzker, 05:06)
  • The commission’s evidence has influenced federal court limitations on ICE and CBP activity and blocked National Guard deployment to American cities.

4. Challenges of Legal Accountability for Federal Agents

• [06:31 - 07:39]
  • Governor Pritzker acknowledged the broad immunity federal agents enjoy, but stressed that collecting and preserving evidence could allow for future accountability.
    • “They may not be held accountable by this administration ... but they can be held accountable when those people are out of office, when there's a new administration or a new Congress.” (J.B. Pritzker, 07:21)
  • Civil liability might be possible even if criminal immunity exists, especially if a new political climate emerges.

5. Prospects of Presidential Pardons and Lasting Consequences

• [07:32 - 08:09]
  • Pritzker expressed a strong belief that President Trump could issue sweeping pardons to ICE and CBP agents, but reinforced that states and future administrations could pursue civil or alternative remedies.
    • “What I want people to know is if you're an ICE agent, a CBP agent, and you're on the streets ... if you do something wrong now, you're gonna be held accountable later. So think twice before you break the law.” (J.B. Pritzker, 07:52)

6. Ensuring Bipartisan Credibility and Combating Partisan Distrust

• [09:03 - 09:25]
  • Addressing skepticism about the commission’s findings, Pritzker highlighted bipartisan involvement, including testimony from Republican leaders:
    • “We had the leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives. He's now retired, but he came back in order to appear before the commission ... I do not believe that standing up for democracy has to be some partisan endeavor.” (J.B. Pritzker, 09:25)

7. Protecting Democracy During Future Elections

• [10:07 - 11:53]
  • Looking forward, Pritzker discussed strategies for state governments to protect voters from intimidation or interference by federal authorities at polling places during elections.
  • He advocated for peaceful measures—escort services, communication, and upholding state control over elections—to ensure robust democratic participation, especially in light of fears of federal overreach during the elections.
    • “We're going to be able to escort people into the polling places. We're going to be able to communicate with people to make sure that they know that what ICE and CBP are doing is simply designed to scare you and that it's your opportunity at this moment to stand up for democracy.” (J.B. Pritzker, 10:37)
    • On not escalating: “It's very important to recognize that we're not talking about confrontations with any kind of weapons or anything like that. We are talking about peaceful protests.” (J.B. Pritzker, 11:27)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jennifer Moriarty’s account:
  • “I always had my purse around my neck like this, and I had my cell phone and I walked around... they had this young woman on the ground... one of the agents ... grabbed me by the neck and threw me back on the ground and got on top of me, proceeded to try and handcuff me. I wasn't resisting.” (01:16)
• Governor Pritzker on accountability:
  • “If you do something wrong now, you're gonna be held accountable later. So think twice before you break the law.” (07:52)
• On bipartisan testimonies and democracy:
  • “I do not believe that standing up for democracy has to be some partisan endeavor.” (09:25)
• Preserving the ability to vote:
  • “This may be the toughest moment, but it is the most crucial moment for people to get out and vote.” (10:53)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00-01:45: Opening montage, introduction to Operation Midway Blitz and Illinois Accountability Commission
• 01:16: Jennifer Moriarty recounts her violent encounter with ICE/CBP
• 02:03: Moriarty discusses her shaken belief in law and order
• 04:51-06:31: Governor Pritzker discusses the commission's findings and impact
• 06:31-08:09: Discussion on accountability, immunity, and presidential pardons
• 08:27-09:25: Addressing bipartisan involvement and how to break through partisan distrust
• 10:07-11:27: Strategies for protecting voters and preventing federal overreach during elections

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Conclusion

This episode provides a deep look into Illinois’ proactive response to a federal immigration crackdown, highlighting both the possibilities and the limits of state-led accountability in the face of broad federal powers and immunity. Through compelling testimony and a thoughtful interview with Governor Pritzker, listeners gain insight into the legal, political, and human dimensions of immigration enforcement and the ongoing struggle to safeguard civil rights and democracy at the local level.

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Transcript

[Scott Detrow]

It's. Consider this where every day we go deep on one big news story today, Illinois Operation Midway Blitz and the quest for accountability. Go.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Go.

[Interviewer/Host or Various Interviewees]

I just want my baby back.

[J.B. Pritzker]

He's not an immigrant. He was born and raised in Chicago.

[Scott Detrow]

That's a snippet from a video montage featuring dramatic scenes of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown last fall in Chicago known as Operation Midway Blitz. The minute and a half video which shows arrests, vehicle stops and Trump administration officials opened the fourth day of hearings of the Illinois Accountability Commission. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker established the commission late last year to create a public record of the weeks long immigration crackdown throughout the Chicago area.

[Interviewer/Host or Various Interviewees]

Good afternoon, Ms. Moriarty.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Hello.

[Interviewer/Host or Various Interviewees]

Thank you for being with us here today.

[Scott Detrow]

Do you need a moment?

[Jennifer Moriarty]

No, I'm. I'm okay.

[Scott Detrow]

Over the past six months, the commission has conducted interviews with 60 people, including Evanston lawyer Jennifer Moriarty. Moriarty was thrown to the ground when she tried to film the aftermath of federal agents slamming on their brakes, causing another car to hit them.

[Jennifer Moriarty]

I got out of my car. I had my. I always had my purse around my neck like this, and I had my cell phone and I walked around to the side of the driver's side and they had this young woman on the ground. And I held my cell phone out and I was going to start recording. And one of the agents that were right there immediately turned around, grabbed me by the neck and threw me back on the ground and got on top of me, proceeded to try and handcuff me. I wasn't resisting.

[Scott Detrow]

In lengthy, detailed testimony, Moriarty recounted being handcuffed, pushed into a vehicle, and an agent cutting her purse from around her neck with a knife. Moriarty was never arrested and never charged. As her testimony ended, commission member Ahmed Bassett asked Moriarty how the experience had affected her.

[Jennifer Moriarty]

It's insane. I, too, chose this. My grandfather was an appellate court judge for the state of New York. I grew up admiring him as an amazing man, and I wanted to be like him. Law and order. Everybody follows the rules. You know, it works out. And that's not what's happening now.

[Scott Detrow]

Consider this. The Illinois Accountability Commission has spent months investigating Operation Midway Blitz, yet there's no way to hold anyone legally responsible. Coming up, Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker weighs in. From npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

[Interviewer/Host or Various Interviewees]

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[Scott Detrow]

It's Consider this from npr. The Illinois state government has been investigating the United States federal government. Specifically, a panel called the Illinois Accountability Commission has been conducting interviews and reviewing footage from last year's federal immigration enforcement crackdown in Chicago known as Operation Midway Blitz. The Illinois Accountability Commission was created by an executive order of Governor J.B. pritzker. Governor Pritzker joins us now. Welcome to All Things Considered.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Glad to be with you, Scott.

[Scott Detrow]

Today was the last day of the hearings. Lots of video, lots of testimony, as we heard. What sticks with you?

[J.B. Pritzker]

Well, you know, the testimony of the eyewitnesses, the people who experienced the onslaught of CBP and ICE in our streets was very powerful. We heard from Miramar Martinez, who was a young woman who was sitting in her car. She saw ICE and CBP doing things that she knew were wrong. You know, they were going after tackling brown, brown and black people, people with accents, people who are US Citizens and here legally, people who hadn't broken any laws. And she started yelling and beeping her horn. And you know what they did? They shot her five times. And she wasn't the only one. In Chicago. There was Silverio, Villegas, Gonzalez, who was killed by ICE and cbp. And this all happened before people paid attention in Minneapolis. We really had to develop a playbook to deal with this. And one of those items in our playbook was everybody pull out your phone, take a video. When you see them doing something wrong, keep evidence. And then this accountability commission took that testimony and video Live testimony from people who were there, legal experts and so on. And this was led by a federal judge, a state senior judge. And they did deep dives into 16 different investigations. They interviewed 60 eyewitnesses. They reviewed over 100 hours of ice and CBP body camera footage, 250 different videos. Lots of work done.

[Scott Detrow]

What does accountability look like to you? Because these federal agents have broad immunity, if not the complete immunity that President Trump claims. What is accountability?

[J.B. Pritzker]

I'm glad you asked, because first of all, that evidence has already been used in federal court cases to limit ICE and cbp, what they can do on our streets. It also has been used to fight back against Donald Trump trying to deploy National Guard into our streets. Indeed, it was our attorney general who won the case at the Supreme Court. The. That keeps National Guard from being deployed in any American city right now. So that's part of what's been done. That's an accountability item. The other, of course, is that these folks need to know that they may not be held accountable by this administration. They may not be held accountable by this Department of Homeland Security or CBP or ice, Bovino, Hohman, the rest of them, but they can be held accountable when. When those people are out of office, when there's a new administration or a new Congress.

[Scott Detrow]

Do you think or worry that President Trump will issue broad pardons to ICE and Border Patrol agents before he leaves office?

[J.B. Pritzker]

I think he's going to do that. The question is, can you really pardon the entire federal government? Can you really pardon all of CBP and ice? Maybe he will. But also, people can be held civilly liable for their personal actions here. So they. Look, what I want people to know is if you're an ICE agent, a CBP agent, and you're on the streets of any American city, we're keeping track. And if you do something wrong now, you're gonna be held accountable later. So think twice before you break the law.

[Scott Detrow]

On that topic of later accountability, I'll just note it's not the point of the question, but I'll just note you're mentioned in the conversation about people thinking of running for president in the next election. When a new administration comes in, what do you want to see the federal government do? Reviewing what happened in Chicago, what happened in Minneapolis, what happen happened elsewhere?

[J.B. Pritzker]

Well, I think it would start with a change in the House of Representatives, a change in the Senate, which could happen as early as January of 2027, and that is with hearings. You know, this Republican Congress is unwilling to hold any hearings or ask any Questions. It's one of the reasons why everybody's paying attention to our accountability commission, because we're the only people who are asking those questions and taking a record. So I believe you're going to see that investigation begin in 27. I think it's appropriate. Look, we all should know what's happened. People should know across the country, even they live in neighborhoods that haven't been under attack yet, because this should never happen again.

[Scott Detrow]

To that point, though, you know how partisan the environment is. You know how much AI and other factors are just making up facts right now. You know that a lot of people are going to see this report and say, that's a report that came from a Democratic governor, a partisan actor, and therefore I'm not going to read it. I'm not going to believe what I heard from it. How do you get information to break through in this environment?

[J.B. Pritzker]

Well, first we had testimony from Republicans at this commission. So it isn't some sort of partisan endeavor. We had the leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives. He's now retired, but he came back in order to appear before the commission. He talked about free and fair elections and the problem of deploying people who are wearing uniforms and masks and automatic weapons and doing that in and around an election, which I believe is going to happen in November. And he warned us against that. And you've seen Republicans stand up against this administration. I do not believe that standing up for democracy has to be some partisan endeavor.

[Scott Detrow]

You just mentioned your concerns about the November election. I'm curious what you have learned from this commission, what you will take going forward about how state government, how local government can react, and if there's a strong federal presence again in November or another time.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Okay. Well, I think everybody needs to understand that the supremacy clause of the Constitution does allow the federal government to have their laws are supreme over state laws. Having said that, there are ways for states to stand up and push back. I'll give you an example. I believe that in the November elections, you're going to see in state after state, you're going to see Democratic governors deploying people to protect polling places to make sure that even if there are people wearing uniforms, ICE and CBP standing around near polling places, that we're going to be able to escort people into the polling places. We're going to be able to communicate with people to make sure that they know that what ICE and CBP are doing is simply designed to scare you and that it's your opportunity at this moment to stand up for democracy. To do the right thing. This may be the toughest moment, but it is the most crucial moment for people to get out and vote.

[Scott Detrow]

You're talking about state authorities perhaps confronting federal authorities outside polling stations. Is that a scenario you're talking about?

[J.B. Pritzker]

It's very important to recognize that we're not talking about confrontations with any kind of weapons or anything like that. We are talking about peaceful protests. We are talking about, remember these elections all across the country. Elections are controlled by the states. And I have always advocated that we, first of all, keep it at the state level. I know Trump would like to federalize elections so that he can take control.

[Scott Detrow]

And that's Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Thank you so much for joining us.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Thanks, Scott.

[Scott Detrow]

This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Hanse and Karen Zamora. It was edited by Patrick Jaron Watanatan and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. It's consider this from npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

[Interviewer/Host or Various Interviewees]

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