ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice 59d ago

The federal government’s large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Chicago - known as Operation Midway Blitz - triggered a rapid and coordinated response from city leadership, legal advocates, and community networks. In this Chair Chat, Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León joins Richard Peña to examine how Chicago responded to aggressive federal tactics, from legal strategy and policy coordination to grassroots organizing and rapid response systems. This conversation explores the broader implications for civil rights, constitutional protections, and democratic accountability - highlighting how local governments and communities can mobilize to protect vulnerable populations and prepare for future enforcement actions. Beatriz Ponce de León – Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, City of Chicago Richard Peña – Vice Chair, Rights of Immigrants Committee, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice; President and CEO, Law Offices of Richard Peña, P.C. -- During the 2025–26 Bar Year, Section Chair Mario A. Sullivan continues CRSJ’s Chair Chat – bringing together leading lawyers, scholars, advocates, and organizers to tackle the most urgent civil rights and rule-of-law issues and share practical strategies for impact. New episodes premiere every other Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET on our YouTube channel. Subscribe for updates and catch past conversations on-demand. Learn more about CRSJ Chair Chat: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/chair-chat/