Ruling could free ICE detainees in Illinois
By: Michael Loria
USA Today
CHICAGO - Hundreds of people from Illinois detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement could be released, a federal judge said November 13, [2025] saying that "it seems highly unlikely that they're drug traffickers or gang members or the assorted n'er-do-wells ICE has claimed are the worst of the worst."
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U.S. District Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings gave the oral ruling in federal court in Chicago in response to court filings saying the arrest were made unlawfully. The judge;s ruling comes nearly two months into President Donald Trump's Operation Midway Blitz could potentially set the stage to free many of the people detained during the immigration enforcement crackdown.
..... Filings from attorneys at the American civil Liberties Union of Illinois are aiming to enforce an agreement Homeland Security officials made with the court in 2022 that limited the kinds of arrests the agency can make in the Chicago area. The precess is known as a consent decree.
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Among the restrictions are limitations on arrest made without a warrant or in vehicle stops. At least 13 people detained in the immigration enforcement crackdown are expected to be released November 14. [2025] A group of around 600 could be ordered to be released November 21. [2025] Attorneys for the detainees hope to eventually see whether all people detained in Operation Midway Blitz would be protected by the consent decree.
..... "It will show that this whole operation, the last tow months of terrorizing neighborhoods and brutalizing people, has all been unlawful,: aid Mark Flemmigrqant Justice Center.
..... Trump to catch the "worst of the worst' criminal immigrants. Homeland Security officials have said "3,000 illegal aliens, including rapists, murderers, and gang members " have been arrested in connection with the blitz.
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The lawsuit filed on behalf of those who have been detained aims to verify how many are criminals and were lawful arrested.
..... Cummings also gave an order on November 12 [2025] barring the group of around 600 detainees referred to in court filings from being deported or agreeing to be deported. Attorneys for immigrants begin detains said Cummings' order, called a stay, is essential because with their clients unable to reach their lawyers, some have either been deported or agreed to be deported.
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Around 1,100 chicago-ar4ea detainees who may have been arrested in violation of the consent decree have already been deported or agreed to be deported, attorneys said in court.
..... "We're concerned these individuals don't even know their release is pending," said Mark Feldman, another National Immigrate Justice Center attorney. "We're concerned they don't know to have hope at this point."
..... The 600 people in question are among those arrested by ICE agents between June and October. [2025] Immigration authorities are assessing if the immigrants detained in the crackdown poses risk. Lawyers for the government said that of 400 assessed so far, around a dozen are considered a risk. Cummings said he would not allow those who are considered a risk to the public to be released. Any who are released would likely have to wear an ankle monitor while their immigrant case is underway.