ICE’s Actions During Operation Midway Blitz (08/06/26)

The Chicago Bar Association Public Affairs Committee will co-host a forum focused on the Illinois Accountability Commission’s report on the impact of Operation Midway Blitz. 

Governor JB Pritzker established the Commission to develop an independent public record grounded in evidence, testimony, and investigative review. The Governor named Judge Ruben Castillo, former chief judge of the Northern District of Illinois, as the Commission’s Chair. The Commission was tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into federal law enforcement conduct during Operation Midway Blitz and its impact on Illinois communities. The Final Report is the culmination of that work. In April 2026, the Commission issued its final report based on the independent investigation with findings that are substantial and corroborated by multiple sources. 

Please join us for the forum, which will feature the Commission’s Chair, Judge Ruben Castillo, who will present the report’s findings. This will be followed by a conversation with Professor Laura Beth Nielsen about the significance of the findings for civil rights, the questions that confront our understanding of democracy in a multiethnic, multiracial society, and audience questions. The program will be moderated by Professor Raff Donelson of I.I.T. Chicago-Kent College of Law.    

About the Speakers:

The Honorable Ruben Castillo was appointed by President Clinton as a federal judge for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) and served for twenty-five years, from 1994 to 2019, including six years (2013 to 2019) as Chief Judge. Judge Castillo was also appointed by President Clinton as Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission in 1999 and was reappointed by President George W. Bush to a second term as Vice Chair in 2004. Judge Castillo is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law.

Professor Laura Beth Neilsen is the Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition Chair in Sociology at Northwestern University and the Executive Director Designate of The American Bar Foundation. In addition to her numerous publications, she is the author of the forthcoming book, The Democracy We Deserve. 

Professor Raff Donelson is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research grapples with questions in law and philosophy, as well as at their intersection. In philosophy, his research focuses on the foundations of ethics and on questions about the nature of law. His doctrinal legal work centers on constitutional protections for incarcerated people and the accused. He teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, and legal theory. 

This program is co-sponsored by The State and Local Government Subcommittee of the Public Affairs Committee at the Union League Club of Chicago; ULCC’s Civics Education, Administration of Justice, and the Women of the Union League Club Subcommittees, Northwest Center, The Resurrection Project, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, and The Chicago Bar Association.

The CBA will administer IL MCLE Credit and the program will be hosted at Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W Jackson Blvd., Chicago IL 60604. Lunch will be provided. Register through the Union League Club at: 

https://midwayblitz.eventbrite.com

Cost:  $57.18 | Attire:  Smart Casual

Space is limited. RSVP required.

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Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.