Chicago judge Orders Halt to Deportations, Potential Release for Hundreds of ICE Detainees
Chicago, IL – november 12, 2025 – A federal judge in Chicago issued an order Tuesday temporarily blocking the deportation of approximately 600 immigration detainees and paving the way for the potential release of many more, pending verification of the legality of their arrests. The case centers around concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated a long-standing consent decree during a recent crackdown dubbed “operation Midway Blitz.”
The lawsuit, brought on behalf of the detainees, seeks to determine how many individuals detained during the operation are actually criminals and were lawfully arrested. Attorneys argue that many were swept up in violation of the consent decree, which governs ICE’s arrest practices in the Chicago area.
Judge Cummings issued a “stay” on November 12, preventing the detainees from being deported or voluntarily agreeing to deportation. Attorneys for the detainees emphasized the urgency of this order, stating that many clients have already been deported or have agreed to leave the country without knowing about the ongoing legal proceedings that could impact their ability to remain in the United States.
“These individuals may not know,” Cummings stated in court, “They’re not in the courtroom today and they may not have any way of knowing they’re going to be removed in a couple days.”
According to court filings, around 1,100 Chicago-area immigration detainees who may have been arrested in violation of the consent decree have already been deported or agreed to be deported.
Mark Feldman, an attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, expressed concern that many detainees are unaware that their release may be pending. “We’re concerned these individuals don’t even know their release is pending,” he said.”We’re concerned they don’t know to have hope at this point.”
The 600 detainees covered by the judge’s order were arrested by ICE agents between June and October. Immigration authorities are currently assessing whether these individuals pose a risk to public safety. Government lawyers reported that of the 400 detainees assessed so far, approximately a dozen have been identified as potential risks. Judge Cummings clarified that he would not allow the release of any detainees deemed a risk to the public, but indicated they would likely be subject to electronic monitoring via ankle bracelets while their immigration cases proceed.
“This will enable them to remain in their communities, contributing to their families,” the judge said, adding that the ankle monitoring program is considerably less expensive than detaining individuals in ICE facilities, which have been reportedly poor in condition.
Based on the low number of detainees identified as risks thus far, the judge does not anticipate a significant increase in that number.
Attorneys representing the detainees plan to seek information regarding thousands of other individuals taken into custody during the broader “Midway Blitz” operation, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security on November 12.
Michelle Garcia, another lawyer for the detainees, believes the Illinois proceedings could serve as a model for similar lawsuits nationwide. She stated that similar legal challenges are already underway in California and Colorado.
“What today’s ruling shows,” Garcia said, “is ther’s a path forward.”