Judge Jeffrey Cummings halted a sweeping immigration crackdown in Chicago by ordering the release of up to 615 people detained during a federal enforcement campaign that targeted long-term U.S. residents without bond hearings.
The ruling, issued Wednesday, directly pushes back on a Trump administration policy shift that eliminated bond hearings for many immigrants with deep roots in the country. The Chicago Sun-Times reports Cummings determined that hundreds of those arrested during “Operation Midway Blitz” between June 11 and October 7 were likely held unlawfully. According to court documents, many of the detainees were working-class individuals, including 20 landscapers, four ride-share drivers, and others detained while commuting or shopping at places such as Home Depot and Menards.
The judge’s order stems from the Castanon Nava settlement, which limits warrantless arrests by ICE and related agencies in Illinois and nearby states. The decision could eventually affect hundreds more cases if additional arrests made between June and November are found to violate the same legal standard. Cummings criticized the nature of the arrests, pointing out that 54 people were taken from job sites, 20 while commuting, and nine while shopping. Seven were picked up at immigration hearings and 11 more in public spaces like parks, gas stations and even a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru.