United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros announced today the successful conclusion of Operation New Dawn, a groundbreaking "badgeless" federal anti-violence initiative in the Chicago and Rockford areas that resulted in 179 individuals charged, 305 fugitives apprehended, and 24 kidnapped children safely returned home. The operation, which ran for approximately 60 days starting around May 1, 2026, brought together eleven federal agencies under a unified mission to disrupt violent crime.
Described as "badgeless" because participating federal agencies set aside individual shields to operate under the banner of the United States flag, Operation New Dawn focused exclusively on arresting the most dangerous offenders for federal prosecution. This innovative approach, launched in recognition of the nation's 250th birthday, targeted serious offenses including robberies, kidnapping, firearms and drug trafficking, immigration violations, and child exploitation. Agencies involved included the ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, and IRS Criminal Investigation, among others, with strong support from the Chicago Police Department.
The initiative's results significantly exceeded expectations. Since early May 2026, 179 criminal defendants were charged across 140 newly-filed federal cases, while 305 fugitives, many with prior serious charges, were brought into custody. Crucially, 24 children, many of whom had been kidnapped, were located and reunited with their families. "It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence," said U.S. Attorney Boutros, emphasizing the operation's rapid, targeted interventions.
U.S. Attorney Boutros thanked the participating agencies and their leadership, including Robert Cekada, Director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), for their "exceptional and strong partnership." Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Chicago Field Division, added, "The success of Operation New Dawn reflects the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the trust, commitment, and collaboration among our Chicago federal law enforcement partners." Boutros highlighted the operation as the "dawn of a new federal law enforcement era" in combating violent crime in the Northern District of Illinois.