Letter to DOJ-OIG and DHS OIG Requesting Investigative Task Force on Operation Midway Blitz Use of Force Incidents
Uploaded by
Todd FeurerLetter to DOJ-OIG and DHS OIG Requesting Investigative Task Force on Operation Midway Blitz Use of Force Incidents
Uploaded by
Todd FeurerOctober 17, 2025
Don R. Berthiaume Joseph Cuffari
Acting Inspector General Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Homeland Security
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 245 Murray Lane SW
Washington, DC 20530 Washington, DC 20528
Dear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume and Inspector General Cuffari:
I am writing to express outrage and alarm over recent use of force incidents involving Federal
law enforcement officers performing activities associated with Operation Midway Blitz in the
City of Chicago and surrounding communities.
A Federal district judge has already issued a temporary restraining order restricting how the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with all supporting Federal officers, agents,
assigns and persons supporting DHS, may use riot control weapons in Illinois, after determining
that certain actions by Federal agents participating in Operation Midway Blitz “clearly violate the
constitution.”
These incidents raise serious questions about U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS
compliance with agency policies and regulations, along with Federal law and constitutional
protections. In reviewing recent Operation Midway Blitz use of force incidents, there appears to
be troubling patterns and practices emerging:
Excessive Force at Protests: On September 26, 2025, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades
against peaceful protesters outside the Broadview ICE facility, leaving demonstrators
gasping for air and likely violating First Amendment rights.
Rough Arrests Captured on Video: Cell phone footage from October 2, 2025, captured
Federal agents in Chicago surrounding and forcefully subduing an individual during an
arrest, with bystanders describing the tactics as unnecessarily violent and
disproportionate.
Improper Use of Deadly Force: On September 12, 2025, security camera footage
captured an ICE officer discharging his firearm in a street with oncoming traffic and
killing an individual attempting to flee a traffic stop. ICE claimed the officer was dragged
by the vehicle for a long time, but this is unclear from the footage and the ICE officer
referred to his own injuries as “nothing major.”
Page 2
Unlawful Arrests and Detentions: Civil rights groups have alleged that ICE officers
conducted dozens of arrests without warrants or probable cause, including the detention
of at least three U.S. citizens, in violation of constitutional protections against unlawful
seizure.
Unreasonable Force Against Minors: During a September 30, 2025, raid at a 130-unit
apartment building in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, Federal agents reportedly
entered nearly every apartment, throwing flashbangs, busting down doors and restraining
residents, including children, with zip ties and placing them in vans for hours, with some
children held separately from their parents for the duration of the operation.
Border Patrol and Federal Officer Conduct: Reports suggest that Border Patrol agents
and other Federal law enforcement officers deployed under Operation Midway Blitz have
engaged in actions that may exceed their lawful authority, including aggressive crowd
control tactics and questionable vehicle stops.
As you know, the DOJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DHS OIG maintain oversight
responsibilities for the conduct of DOJ and DHS law enforcement components, respectively.
Given the interagency nature of Operation Midway Blitz, heightened public concern in Chicago
and the troubling trend—cited in Federal judicial opinions—of DHS losing credibility by issuing
public statements describing officer involved use of force incidents that diverge from facts on the
ground, I believe a coordinated, independent joint DOJ OIG-DHS OIG investigative task force is
necessary to ensure accountability and restore public trust.
Accordingly, I respectfully request that your offices establish and deploy a joint investigative
task force to:
Conduct independent investigations of all reported officer-involved use of force incidents
related to Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois;
Assess whether Federal officers complied with applicable laws, regulations and
departmental use-of-force policies;
Evaluate the adequacy of training, supervision and command oversight provided to
deployed personnel; and
Recommend corrective actions, including policy reforms, disciplinary measures and—
when appropriate—referrals to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for criminal
prosecution.
The people of Chicago, and the United States, deserve transparency and accountability when
Federal officers operate in their neighborhoods. A joint effort by your offices will help ensure
that investigations are impartial, comprehensive and not hindered by jurisdictional silos, conflicts
of interest or improper interference.
Page 3
I request that you provide my office with a briefing on your plans to establish this task force
within 14 days of receipt of this letter. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and for
your continued commitment to independent oversight.
Sincerely,
Tammy Duckworth
United States Senator
