'Unusual and possibly unprecedented': Judge calls out Chicago feds as Midway Blitz cases fall apart

[riversedge]

Source: chicago.suntimes.com


Prosecutors have dropped charges against all five people charged in connection with Sept. 27 protests at the immigration holding facility in west suburban Broadview.


By Jon Seidel Nov 20, 2025, 8:26pm CST


These “are not ordinary times at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse” in Chicago’s Loop.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes made that point Thursday, as he closed the book on the last of five now-dismissed prosecutions tied to September protests outside a federal immigration holding facility in the western suburbs.

Fuentes used a nine-page opinion not only to dismiss, with prejudice, a misdemeanor charge against Dana Briggs, but to highlight how each of those five cases, all tied to Operation Midway Blitz, “were highly unusual in this district for several reasons.”


“The court cannot help but note just how unusual and possibly unprecedented it is for the U.S. attorney’s office in this district to charge so hastily that it either could not obtain the indictment in the grand jury or was forced to dismiss upon a conclusion that the case is not provable, in repeated cases of a similar nature,” Fuentes wrote.

The five people charged in connection with the Sept. 27 protests were........


Read more: https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/11/20/unusual-and-possibly-unprecedented-judge-calls-out-chicago-feds-as-midway-blitz-cases-fall-apart

[Prairie Gates]

1. Three "no bills" associated with Midway Blitz

That is, the federal Grand Jury refused to indict. That's very rare in Chicago. It's basically a revolt by the people against the tyrannical charges laid by ICE.

Part of the reason Midway Blitz collapsed is because of widespread resistance among the people, represented by street protests, legal action, coalition-building, community watches and whistle programs, street blockage, hotel/no sleep actions, refusal of service at restaurants and businesses, and, yes, Grand Jury refusal to entertain federal overcharging related to all of the above. It will be studied as a model for popular resistance to police action.

[EuterpeThelo]

2. Yes

Chicago and Portland certainly seem to be leading the way with bold and creative opposition!

[Bluetus]

4. I am confused

If there were no indictments, then how did it get into Fuentes' court?

Or is Fuentes the magistrate overseeing the grand jury?

Either way, this is a terrible abuse of our judicial system by this reckless administration. We can be thankful that at least this part of our system seems to be holding, for now.

[Prairie Gates]

5. The defendants were charged and an indictment was sought

The grand jury returned no indictment. You still have to file the "no bill" (indication that no indictment was returned) with the court for the official dismissal of the charges. It's mostly pro forma at that point.

[Bluetus]

7. TY

[Hugin]

3. "... with prejudice..."

Nice. Very nice.

[Mr. Evil]

6. Ah, yes.

That's the icing on top. With a cherry even!

[moonshinegnomie]

8. the agents who lie dshould be charged with perjury and obstruction

starting with bovino

[erronis]

9. And all the way up the chain of command. All the way to Noem, Miller, and Putin.

t-rump will get a pass because of insanity.

[Figarosmom]

10. Hope he made the feds pay

Their legal fees and compensate any missed time at their jobs.

[FakeNoose]

11. Thank you Judge Gabriel Fuentes!

https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Pages.aspx?page=tabid=1_MJudgeBio_Fuentes

[ShazzieB]

12. As an Illinoisian, who was born in Chicago (although I haven't lived there since I was a baby)...

...and who has spent most of my adult life living and (prior to retirement) working in the Chicago metro area, I just wanted to say how proud of the Windy City I am right now. In spite of being given more than ample provocation, Chicagoans (like those in other cities Schlump's ICE goons have invaded) , have been able to resist the temptation to be goaded into committing acts of violence that the Orange Hellbeast could have used as a pretext to declare martial law or worse. How awesome is that?

And really, how awesome are Americans? He has tried so hard, in city after city, to gin up violence, and time after time, it hasn't worked! (At least as far as I know - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but surely it would have been huge news if actual rioting had broken out anywhere...wouldn't it? *looks around hopefully*) I don't know about anyone else, but I think that is pretty darned cool! It actually kind of restores at least a little bit of my sorely tested faith in humanity to realize that Americans in so many different cities have refused to give him what he wants! May that continue, by the grace of whatever gods may be.

And for now, take a bow, Chicago, and thank you for your leadership, Gov. JB Pritzker! You rock!