A coalition of activists, lawmakers, and criminal justice reformers held a press conference on March 12 accusing Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke of ignoring alleged abuses by federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz. The group is asking a judge to appoint a special prosecutor to the criminal division of the Cook County Circuit Court to investigate federal agents. Burke has called these demands “frivolous” and said she will “strenuously oppose this petition.”
The issue is significant because it highlights ongoing tensions over how wrongful convictions are handled in Chicago and the financial impact on taxpayers. Between 2008 and 2024, Chicago paid more than $1.11 billion in police-related verdicts and settlements, much of it related to wrongful conviction cases.
Burke’s approach marks a shift from her predecessor Kim Foxx, whose office issued many certificates of innocence that allowed for large civil settlements without requiring proof of factual innocence in court. Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot criticized Foxx for “handing out COI’s like they’re candy.” A federal judge has now ordered Foxx to testify about decisions made after meetings with lawyers connected to an exoneration non-profit and a private law firm specializing in wrongful conviction lawsuits.
Burke has implemented new protocols requiring claims of innocence to be litigated individually rather than through administrative deals. She also introduced a charging protocol allowing her office to pursue felony charges against federal immigration agents in use-of-force incidents while acknowledging legal limits under the Supremacy Clause. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul supports this approach, saying his office reviewed the protocol and “concur[s] with its conclusions and approach.”
Under Burke’s leadership, requests for detainment while awaiting trial increased by 70 percent in her first year, with particular focus on domestic violence cases. In 2025, detentions for domestic violence surpassed 80 percent. To address this trend, Burke created the Special Victims Bureau and Domestic Violence Homicide Unit.
Supporters of the petition claim their efforts seek justice for ICE protesters but critics argue it is a political move aimed at undermining Burke ahead of elections. The article suggests further attacks on Burke may continue as debates over criminal justice reform persist.
