Full Breakdown
Crisis in Chicago’s U.S. Attorney’s Office After “Operation Midway Blitz”
7/19/2026, 8:55:59 PM
Operation Midway Blitz Triggers Leadership Turmoil
Last fall, the Trump administration launched an immigration enforcement sweep in Chicago dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. Under U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros, the Northern District of Illinois filed dozens of federal assault charges against immigrants and U.S. citizens who had protested the operation. The cases, described by former staff as “doomed,” accelerated an exodus of veteran prosecutors from a office historically celebrated for high-profile convictions, including those of Al Capone and former Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich.
Mass Departures and Structural Re-shuffling
In the twelve months following the sweep, the heads of all seven sections of the office’s criminal division resigned, and many of their successors and deputies also left. To manage the influx of cases, Boutros redeployed prosecutors across the criminal division and eliminated the stand-alone national security section—once a leader in terrorism prosecutions—shifting its work to an unrelated unit.
Former Prosecutors’ Letter Condemns Leadership
More than 100 former federal prosecutors from the Chicago office signed a collective letter criticizing Boutros’s management. The letter states:
> “actions taken by leadership in the last year have tarnished the reputation” of the office. — former federal prosecutors, in a signed letter
The signatories argue that the aggressive pursuit of immigration-related assault charges and the dismantling of the national security section have damaged the office’s standing within the legal community.
Official Response and Ongoing Impact
Boutros has not issued a public rebuttal to the letter. The office continues to process the pending assault cases while operating with a markedly reduced senior leadership team. Legal analysts note that the staffing vacuum may hinder the district’s ability to handle complex criminal matters beyond the immigration sweep.
What Lies Ahead
No formal hearings or internal reviews have been announced. The situation leaves the Northern District of Illinois with an uncertain path forward as it seeks to restore its reputation and rebuild its leadership structure.
