CHICAGO — Hundreds of individuals arrested and detained in the Chicago area during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown may soon be granted release on bond while they await immigration hearings. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings expressed intentions to order the release of 13 detained individuals following a consent decree from 2022 that outlines regulations concerning warrantless arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The judge has set a deadline for government attorneys to examine a list of 615 detained individuals at various facilities to determine if they qualify for alternatives to detention, such as electronic monitoring, as their immigration cases proceed. Cummings plans to issue a release order for those who qualify next week and will pause any deportation proceedings temporarily.
Attorneys for the detainees welcomed this decision as a significant step forward, and they have plans to pursue further cases. All of the tactics used by ICE during mass arrests have largely been unlawful, stated Mark Fleming, a lawyer with the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago.
As the pressure mounts to expedite releases, advocates are worried that many detainees have no access to legal counsel or understanding of their immigration situation. During the hearing, Cummings noted that instances of ICE conducting arrests in public spaces, such as workplaces and fast-food drive-thrus, raised substantial concerns.
The scope of “Operation Midway Blitz,” which began last September, has led to the arrest of over 3,300 individuals suspected of immigration violations, with many already facing deportation. While the consent decree applies to arrests by ICE, its lack of coverage for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is noted, particularly given the controversial tactics employed during the crackdown.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the ruling, suggesting that it poses a danger to public safety. The deportation proceedings and the broader implications of the consent decree's enforcement continue to unfold as advocates strive to secure rights for detainees caught in the contentious landscape of immigration enforcement.
