A federal judge has ordered the release of hundreds of people arrested during recent immigration raids in the Chicago area. US district judge Jeffrey Cummings directed the justice department to produce a list by 19 November showing which of the 615 potential class members remain in custody.
Judge Cummings said he would permit release on a $1,500 bond for detainees with no criminal history or prior removal order. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois said the order would lead to the immediate release of 13 people.
The judge also prohibited the government from pressuring detainees to accept voluntary deportation while their cases are pending. The order follows Operation Midway Blitz, a series of aggressive immigration raids in Chicago that drew allegations of excessive force against protesters.
The ACLU and the National Immigrant Justice Center had filed a lawsuit claiming federal agents violated a 2022 consent decree by conducting warrantless arrests during the crackdown. The ACLU welcomed the ruling, describing it as a step towards accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
Justice department lawyer William Weiland called the decision “highly significant” and asked for a halt to any releases to consult superiors. He noted that at least 12 of the 615 individuals posed substantial security concerns and required further vetting. Judge Cummings ordered both sides to file a status report by 21 November.
Last month, a separate lawsuit was filed by immigration advocates alleging “torturous” conditions at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the Chicago area.
