On the first anniversary of “Operation Midway Blitz,” Ramirez, Durbin, Members of the Illinois Delegation Lead Call for Accountability, Oversight Into DHS Excessive Force

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of a Subcommittee in the Committee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 7 members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in requesting that the Office of the Inspector General investigate Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) agents for a pattern of misconduct, unconstitutional uses of force, and potential criminal violations during immigration enforcement operations, including "Operation Midway Blitz." The Members are calling on the Inspector General to utilize the findings of the Illinois Accountability Commission's Final Report on "Operation Midway Blitz," which documents, at length, patterns of abusive, illegal, and reckless agent behavior.

"Enforcement actions across the country - from Illinois to Minnesota to Virginia - reveal a consistent pattern that goes beyond ICE: agents use reckless and unlawful force and then DHS issues public statements justifying the use of force that are repeatedly proven false or highly misleading. We are deeply concerned that DHS has not taken sufficient action to ensure that agents and officers do not engage in this type of misconduct," wrote the Members.

To illustrate the pattern, the Members point to Agent Martin Lagunas, who has a history of aggressive, escalatory conduct in both Chicago and Minneapolis before an incident in Maryland. Some of the reports include reckless driving, obstructing observers engaged in legal First Amendment activity, drawing weapons on residents, questionable discharge of chemical irritants, and threatening civilians.

"Agent Lagunas' behavior is not an isolated incident. This pattern of abusive, illegal, and reckless behavior is documented at length in the Illinois Accountability Commission's Final Report on "Operation Midway Blitz," wrote the Members. " There is little evidence of DHS action to investigate [DHS agent excessive use of force] incidents and hold personnel accountable. Instead, many, like Agent Lagunas, continue to engage in incidents of excessive force around the country with apparent impunity. His example points to a structural failure in how DHS monitors, investigates, and corrects such operational conduct to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and policies."

The Members added, "When the Illinois Accountability Commission released its findings, a DHS spokesperson attempted to dismiss the report by arguing that states lack the authority to investigate on-duty federal agents. While we disagree with this claim, the Office of Inspector General unquestionably possesses the public duty to investigate federal officers for misconduct, unconstitutional uses of force, and potential criminal violations."

Congressmembers Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Mike Quigley (IL-05) cosigned the request for investigation.

In addition to the investigation, the members requested:

• A briefing on steps the Inspector General's office has taken to initiate administrative reviews and investigations into agent misconduct.
• The preservation of all records relating to the incidents described in this letter and to the agents, including body-worn and dashboard camera recordings and associated metadata; radio and dispatch traffic; incident, use-of-force, and after-action reports; supervisory review and referral documentation; personnel and disciplinary files; communications concerning the drafting, approval, and dissemination of public statements regarding these incidents.
• The keeping of records reflecting the assignment, deployment, or transfer of the named agents among Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia.

For the full letter, CLICK HERE.