Charges Dropped Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct
On May 21, 2026, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros dropped all charges with prejudice against the remaining four 'Broadview Six' protesters in Chicago federal court, citing misconduct by his assistants before a grand jury. The case stemmed from a September 2025 protest outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, during the Trump-era Operation Midway Blitz deportation campaign. Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify defendants after dismissal and plans to consider sanctions against prosecutors.
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DOJ's Aggressive Prosecution of ICE Protesters Collapses Amid Misconduct
The article reports on the collapse of the federal case against the 'Broadview Six,' a group of protesters at an ICE detention center near Chicago. Judge April Perry discovered that government attorneys corrupted the grand jury process by redacting official transcripts to secure an indictment. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros subsequently dismissed all charges. The judge stated she had never seen such prosecutorial behavior and hinted at possible sanctions. The case is part of a broader pattern where the Trump administration has lost an uncharacteristic number of prosecutions related to immigration protests. The protests occurred during Operation Midway Blitz, a major ICE enforcement operation that arrested over 2,000 people in October 2025 and deported more than 2,400 by April 2026. The Department of Homeland Security used the Broadview detention center as a backdrop for propaganda videos featuring then-Secretary Kristi Noem, portraying protesters as dangerous despite evidence of peaceful demonstrations.
The New RepublicDOJ's Aggressive Prosecution of ICE Protesters Collapses Amid Misconduct Revelations
The article reports on the collapse of a federal case against the 'Broadview Six,' a group of protesters at an ICE detention center near Chicago. The judge, April Perry, discovered that government attorneys corrupted the grand jury process by redacting official transcripts to secure an indictment. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros subsequently dismissed all charges. The case is part of a broader pattern where the Trump administration has lost an unusual number of prosecutions related to immigration protests. The protests occurred during Operation Midway Blitz, a massive enforcement action that arrested thousands and deported over 2,400 people by April 2026. The Department of Homeland Security used the Broadview facility for propaganda videos. The judge indicated possible sanctions against the prosecutors, a rare accountability measure.
The New RepublicDOJ's Aggressive Prosecution of ICE Protesters Collapses Amid Misconduct Revelations
The U.S. Department of Justice's effort to prosecute protesters opposing President Trump's mass deportation campaign has suffered a major setback. In the case of the 'Broadview Six,' federal prosecutors in Chicago corrupted the grand jury process by redacting official transcripts to secure an indictment against demonstrators at the Broadview immigration detention center. Judge April Perry condemned the prosecutorial behavior as unprecedented and suggested sanctions may follow. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros subsequently dismissed all charges. The case unfolded against the backdrop of Operation Midway Blitz, a large-scale ICE enforcement operation that arrested over 2,000 people in October 2025 and deported more than 2,400 by April 2026. The Department of Homeland Security had used the Broadview protests for propaganda purposes, featuring former director Kristi Noem. The article notes the White House has lost an uncharacteristic number of such cases, highlighting systemic issues in the government's legal approach to immigration protest suppression.
The New RepublicFederal Case Against Broadview Six Protesters Collapses Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct Allegations
The federal case against the 'Broadview Six,' anti-ICE protesters initially charged with felony conspiracy, has been dismissed after District Judge April Perry found top prosecutor Andrew Boutros mishandled the case. The charges were eventually dropped with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. New allegations have emerged that Boutros had improper personal contact with the grand jury. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur indicated prosecutors would likely release grand jury transcripts, which reportedly show one prosecutor staking personal credibility, another communicating with jurors outside the assigned room, and a third excusing jurors who disagreed with the prosecution. The six protesters were arrested for surrounding an ICE agent's SUV in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025.
The New RepublicFederal Case Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters Collapses Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct
The federal government's case against the 'Broadview Six'—anti-ICE protesters charged with felony conspiracy for surrounding an ICE agent's SUV in Broadview, Illinois—has been thrown out after District Judge April Perry found top prosecutor Andrew Boutros botched the case. The charges were initially reduced from conspiracy to misdemeanor impeding a federal agent, then dropped with prejudice. New allegations emerged that Boutros had improper personal contact with the grand jury. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur indicated prosecutors would likely release grand jury transcripts, which reportedly show one prosecutor staking personal credibility, another communicating with jurors outside the assigned room, and a third excusing jurors who disagreed with the prosecution. The case is part of a pattern of failed prosecutions against anti-ICE protesters.
The New RepublicFederal Case Against Broadview Six Anti-ICE Protesters Collapses Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct
The federal case against the 'Broadview Six'—anti-ICE protesters charged with felony conspiracy—has been thrown out after District Judge April Perry found top prosecutor Andrew Boutros botched the case. New allegations emerged that Boutros had improper personal contact with the grand jury. The government initially dropped charges against two of the six, then reduced conspiracy charges to misdemeanors for the remaining four, before ultimately dropping all charges with prejudice. Prosecutors have agreed to release grand jury transcripts, which reportedly show one prosecutor staking personal credibility, another communicating with jurors outside the assigned room, and a third excusing jurors who disagreed with the prosecution. The defendants were arrested after surrounding an ICE agent's SUV outside a detention center in Broadview, Illinois.
The New RepublicUS Judge Drops Charges Against ICE Protesters Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct
A federal judge in Chicago permanently dismissed all charges against the four remaining 'Broadview Six' anti-ICE demonstrators after a hearing revealed apparent misconduct by federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros requested the dismissal of the high-profile case, which was set for trial next week. Judge April Perry expressed shock at the 'prosecutorial behavior' in grand jury proceedings. Boutros acknowledged errors but denied deliberate misconduct, while defending the original charges. The judge criticized him for undermining his apology by continuing to vilify the defendants. Perry plans to consider sanctions against the prosecutors involved. Former federal litigator Ken White commented that such judicial language indicates serious wrongdoing, suggesting careers should end. The case stemmed from a protest outside the Broadview detention center during a deportation campaign.
TheWeek feedUS judge drops charges against ICE protesters amid prosecutorial misconduct
A federal judge in Chicago permanently dropped all charges against the four remaining 'Broadview Six' anti-ICE demonstrators. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros requested the dismissal after a hearing that revealed apparent misconduct by his office's prosecutors. Judge April Perry expressed shock at the prosecutorial behavior in grand jury proceedings. Boutros acknowledged errors but defended the original charges, leading the judge to criticize him for undermining his apology. The judge plans to consider sanctions against the prosecutors. The case involved protests outside the Broadview detention center during last year's 'Midway Blitz' deportation campaign. Former federal litigator Ken White commented that such judicial language indicates serious problems, suggesting careers should end.
TheWeek feedUS judge drops all charges against ICE protesters amid prosecutorial misconduct
A federal judge in Chicago permanently dismissed all charges against the four remaining 'Broadview Six' anti-ICE demonstrators after a hearing revealed apparent misconduct by federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros requested the dismissal, acknowledging errors but denying deliberate misconduct. Judge April Perry expressed shock at the prosecutorial behavior in grand jury proceedings and criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify the defendants. The judge plans to consider possible sanctions against the prosecutors. The case, which involved protests outside a detention center during a deportation campaign, was described as a rare federal trial for misdemeanor charges. Former federal litigator Ken White commented that the judge's strong language indicates serious problems, calling for accountability.
TheWeek feedFeds Drop Case Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters
On May 21, 2026, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against the remaining 'Broadview Six' protesters in Chicago, marking a legal victory for anti-ICE activists. The six individuals were initially charged with felony conspiracy after surrounding an ICE agent's vehicle in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025 during Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration deportation campaign. Charges against two protesters were dropped earlier, and conspiracy charges against the other four were reduced to misdemeanors before being dismissed with prejudice by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. U.S. District Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify the defendants after dropping the case. The judge had previously expressed displeasure over redacted grand jury transcripts. The case is part of broader tensions surrounding ICE enforcement, which included a fatal shooting of a resident during the operation.
The New RepublicFeds Drop Case Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters
On May 21, 2026, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against the remaining 'Broadview Six' protesters in Chicago, marking a legal victory for anti-ICE activists. The six individuals had been charged with felony conspiracy after surrounding an ICE agent's car in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025 during Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration deportation campaign. Charges against two protesters were dropped earlier, and conspiracy charges against the other four were reduced to misdemeanors before being dismissed with prejudice by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. U.S. District Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify the defendants after dropping the case. The judge had previously expressed displeasure over the prosecution's handling of grand jury transcripts. The case is part of broader tensions surrounding ICE enforcement in Chicago, which included protests, arrests, and a fatal shooting of a resident.
The New RepublicFeds Drop Case Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters
On May 21, 2026, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against the remaining 'Broadview Six' protesters in Chicago, marking a legal victory for anti-ICE activists. The six individuals were initially charged with felony conspiracy after surrounding an ICE agent's vehicle in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025 to slow a deportation operation. Charges against two protesters were dropped earlier, and conspiracy charges against the remaining four were reduced to misdemeanors before being dismissed with prejudice by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. U.S. District Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify the defendants after dropping the case. The case arose from Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration deportation campaign that sparked protests and a fatal shooting.
The New RepublicFeds Drop Case Against 'Broadview Six' Anti-ICE Protesters
On May 21, 2026, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against the remaining 'Broadview Six' protesters in Chicago, marking a legal victory for anti-ICE activists. The six individuals were initially charged with felony conspiracy after surrounding an ICE agent's vehicle in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025 during Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration deportation campaign. Charges against two protesters were dropped earlier, and conspiracy charges against the other four were reduced to misdemeanors before being dismissed entirely with prejudice by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. U.S. District Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for continuing to vilify the defendants after dropping the case. The judge had previously expressed concerns about the prosecution's handling of grand jury transcripts. The case is part of a broader pattern of federal charges against anti-ICE protesters failing in court.
The New RepublicCharges Dropped Against 'Broadview Six' After Prosecutorial Misconduct Revealed
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced the dismissal of charges against the remaining four members of the 'Broadview Six' in a Chicago federal court, citing misconduct by his assistants before a grand jury. Boutros claimed he was unaware of the misconduct until late last month. The case stemmed from a September 2025 incident outside an immigration holding facility in Broadview, where defendants allegedly surrounded a federal agent's vehicle. Despite dropping the case with prejudice, Boutros defended the original prosecution, calling the defendants' actions 'unacceptable.' U.S. District Judge April Perry criticized Boutros for undermining his apology by continuing to vilify the defendants. The dismissal marks the end of the controversial Operation Midway Blitz prosecution.
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