The Illinois Accountability Commission begins patching up Operation Midway Blitz wounds, though preventative mechanisms remain deficient

Operation Midway Blitz exposed deep flaws in federal oversight — and made Illinois the first state to investigate federal agents.

This audio feature examines Operation Midway Blitz through the voices of an affected Evanston resident, an asylum and immigration law expert, and Governor Pritzker’s Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC). The accountability-focused story investigates the operation’s aftermath, including how it exposed systemic flaws within the federal government. It also reports on recovery and reconstruction efforts through IAC's response and its unprecedented decision to become the first state to investigate federal law enforcement conduct.

Featuring eyewitness Jennifer Moriarty, DePaul asylum and immigration law expert Sioban Albiol, and IAC Vice Chair Patricia Brown Holmes — with a closing word from Gov. JB Pritzker. 

Produced by Caitlin Walsh @caitlinhwalsh for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with DePaul Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic @DePaulLaw

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There is a fear many parents hold on to but rarely say out loud: the possibility of being separated from their child. For one Haitian mother facing deportation, that fear is now a reality.

"M" fled gang violence in Port-au-Prince while eight months pregnant, arriving in the U.S. by boat with only a cell phone and birth certificate. After her asylum case was denied, hindered by language barriers and lack of legal representation, she now wears an ankle monitor—a constant reminder that she could be separated from her four-year-old U.S. citizen daughter at any time.

This investigation reveals how not speaking English, not having legal support, and not knowing how the immigration system works can change the course of immigrant lives—and tear families apart.

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In April of 2003, rural McHenry County began a politically and financially volatile relationship with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by contracting to house immigration detainees at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, Illinois.  The relationship quickly exposed local residents to the horrors of immigrant detention, but knowledge of the facility was a well-kept secret. In 2020, that relationship was thrust into the public spotlight due to the COVID pandemic and the racially motivated murder of George Floyd.  As seen through the eyes of local organizers, this episode of Change Agents will immerse listeners in the almost 20-year fight to end immigrant detention in McHenry County.

Produced by Carlos Acosta @phoenixbilingual | for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with Coalition to Cancel ICE in McHenry County @ICEoutofMcHenryCounty

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There is a fear many parents hold on to but rarely say out loud: the possibility of being separated from their child. For one Haitian mother facing deportation, that fear is now a reality.

"M" fled gang violence in Port-au-Prince while eight months pregnant, arriving in the U.S. by boat with only a cell phone and birth certificate. After her asylum case was denied, hindered by language barriers and lack of legal representation, she now wears an ankle monitor—a constant reminder that she could be separated from her four-year-old U.S. citizen daughter at any time.

This investigation reveals how not speaking English, not having legal support, and not knowing how the immigration system works can change the course of immigrant lives—and tear families apart.

Produced by Obed Lamy @obedlamy for Reparations Media NFP | Translation: Edine Celestin | In collaboration with Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti and immigration advocates 

❤️ Support the Mission: DONATE TODAY

 Don’t miss out — subscribe today and be part of the movement!

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After fleeing Uganda to escape a life sentence for his identity, Adam arrived in Chicago with nothing but his background in social work. Today, he serves as a vital bridge for LGBTQ+ migrants navigating the same trauma, bureaucracy, and fear he once faced. This story explores how one person’s search for peace became a 24/7 mission to ensure no one else has to navigate the resettlement process alone.

In this audio story, we explore the intersection of global migration and LGBTQ+ rights through the voices of directly impacted community members and resettlement experts. Featuring interviews with Adam, archival context on colonial-era laws, and reporting from the resettlement frontlines in Chicago.

Produced by Nadia Carolina Hernandez [@naddixo] for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) [@HIASrefugees] 

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When buses of immigrants from Texas and Florida arrived in Chicago in the summer of 2022, the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti (a local organization led by members of the Haitian diaspora) stepped in to help. The group has supported nearly 350 Haitian families who fled gang violence in Haiti as they began rebuilding their lives in the United States. 

As ICE operations have increased across the country under the Trump administration, the organization has continued to help families navigate the complex immigration system, access resources, and stay safe. 

In this episode, we speak with the organization's executive director about the challenges of supporting Haitian migrants and what continues to drive their work. 

Produced by Obed Lamy obedlamy.com for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti Haitian Congress.org

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In this episode, Emma Yaaka, a Ugandan refugee and community advocate, shares how misinformation spreads through refugee and migrant networks and the real consequences it can have. From WhatsApp groups to TikTok and YouTube, fear can travel fast, shaping decisions about health, safety, and even relocation. Emma works with his community to pause, verify, and navigate information in an environment where trust is fragile, and stakes are high. Experts Dr. Zach McDowell of UIC and Dr. Michael Spikes of NU-Medill explain why distinguishing misinformation from disinformation matters — and why trusted connections can make all the difference. Hosted by Grace Asiegbu, this episode explores how digital information, fear, and community intersect in the lives of refugees.

Produced by Grace Asiegbu @epitome_of_grace for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with Emma Yaaka and U.S. Refugee Integration Organization

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This episode follows Emma Yaaka, a Ugandan refugee who arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and built a life centered on advocacy and community care. He shares his journey fleeing violence as a queer man, surviving displacement in Kenya, and starting over in the U.S. with almost nothing. Emma arrived in the States during turbulent times, as protections for immigrants were beginning to erode and Chicago’s migrant communities faced heightened ICE activity under Trump’s second term. Through his work with Heartland Human Services and the U.S. Refugee Integration Organization, we see how community networks step in where systems fall short. Hosted by Grace Asiegbu, this episode is a story about survival, belonging, and the ways people grow forward together, even when the ground keeps shifting.

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After over a decade behind bars, Maria Garza returned to a world with little support and even less stability. Facing housing insecurity and emotional strain, she saw firsthand the failures of a system that promised rehabilitation but delivered barriers. Determined to break the cycle, she co-founded Challenge II Change, a reentry organization that centers stable housing and mental health as the foundation for real second chances.

Unlock the tools you need to take action!
Check out our Illinois Transitional Housing Guide for insights and strategies to make a difference. 

Produced by Cary Robbins, with Noble Thompson and Noah Tomko-Jones  for Reparations Media NFP | In collaboration with Maria Garza and Challenge II Change @challengeiichange

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When a rash decision changed the course of his life, Harry Peña spent decades behind bars. But prison didn't break him — it revealed his purpose. Determined to turn his painful past into a force for good, Harry founded the Life Impacters Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting the incarceration and recidivism cycle that traps so many formerly incarcerated people. 

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