# ICE Accountability Push After Chicago Crackdown

> Attorney claims ICE agents will face accountability for excessive force in Chicago crackdown.
- Title: ICE Accountability Push After Chicago Crackdown · Newsweek
- Summary: Attorney claims ICE agents will face accountability for excessive force in Chicago crackdown. An attorney representing Illinois citizens who filed FTCA…
- Keywords: ice, operation midway blitz, ftca, chicago, federal tort claims act, excessive force, constitutional rights, dhs, unlawful detention, Accountability, Push, Crackdown
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/ices-day-will-come-citizen-assaults-chicago-lawyer-12461708
- Published: 2026-09-18T19:07:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ice, operation midway blitz, ftca, chicago, il, federal tort claims act, excessive force, constitutional rights, dhs, unlawful detention
## Attorney claims ice accountability
Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin says u.s. immigration and customs enforcement agents will face accountability very very soon for alleged excessive force in chicago.

> i anticipate that in the very near future there will be additional accountability that our administration and certain individuals will have to account for
## Operation midway blitz details
The operation detained more than 4500 immigrants in chicago and surrounding communities last year, sparking protests and legal challenges.

> the department of homeland security says the operation detained more than 4500 immigrants
## Claimants include journalists and citizens
Juan Munoz, an oak park elected official, and journalist Leigh Kunkel filed claims over unlawful detention and force during protests.

> as a citizen and elected official who had their rights violated, what happened to me has changed how i understand the responsibility that comes with public office
## Consequences of excessive force
Kyle frankovich reported families destroyed, people shot, and permanent disabilities from ice operations in chicago.

> families were destroyed. people were shot. many have been left permanently disabled and some have died
## Video evidence of violations
Romanucci says video footage collected during operation midway blitz shows constitutional rights being violated hundreds of times per day.

> the video doesn't lie
## Dhs response to claims
Dhs claims agents acted lawfully while detaining immigrants and will continue arresting the worst of the worst alleged illegal immigrants.

> agitators who obstruct or assault federal law enforcement officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
## Legal process timeline
Claimants must file administrative claims with dhs; if unresolved after six months, they can move to federal court.

> we will seek recourse in any which way we can, and if we can sue the federal agents, we will
## Accountability target
Romanucci aims to secure damages for claimants and establish accountability for policies he argues were unlawful.

> we will target the administration and the agencies for the wrongdoings and the policies which they implemented, which were clearly unconstitutional from the get go
## Key takeaway

An attorney representing Illinois citizens who filed FTCA claims against ICE over Operation Midway Blitz says video evidence shows excessive force and agents will be held accountable soon.