Federal Appeals Court Blocks Release of Immigrants Amid Legal Battle

Fri Dec 12 2025 17:33:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a split decision, a federal appeals court halts the release of hundreds of immigrants detained during a Chicago immigration crackdown, upholding an agreement that restricts federal ICE arrest powers.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the immediate release of over 600 immigrants detained in a Chicago area immigration operation, citing that the U.S. District Judge exceeded his authority. This ruling allows the continuation of a consent decree requiring ICE to document arrests, which has been vital in limiting warrantless detentions following November's crackdown that resulted in thousands of arrests. Legal representatives expressed their determination to fight for the rights of those unlawfully detained.

CHICAGO (FluxDaily) — A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday to block the immediate release of hundreds of immigrants who were detained during an immigration enforcement operation in the Chicago area. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a split decision that has significant implications for the ongoing ramifications of the crackdown on immigration.

The court's decision overturned a prior ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings, who had ordered the release of more than 600 detainees on bond and found that the government violated a 2022 consent decree. This decree governs how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may conduct arrests beyond those considered targeted in operations.

The crackdown, termed 'Operation Midway Blitz', commenced last fall and resulted in over 4,000 arrests, drawing scrutiny on the methods and justification used by federal agents. Last month, Judge Cummings ruled that blanket releases of detainees without individualized assessments were unjust, prompting the appeals court to weigh in.

In the 2-1 ruling, the appeals court asserted that Cummings overstepped judicial authority with the wide-ranging order and underscored that the decree was designed to maintain a delicate balance between immigration enforcement and public safety. Nonetheless, the opinion also criticized the Trump administration's categorization of undocumented immigrants as mandatory detainees.

Plaintiffs' attorneys expressed disappointment with the appeals court's ruling yet stressed that they were encouraged by the continued enforcement of the consent decree, which requires ICE to provide documentation for each arrest it conducts. This system is intended to safeguard against the arbitrary detention of individuals.

As many detainees remain in limbo, legal representatives affirmed their commitment to securing the release of those arrested unlawfully. The decree initially arose from a lawsuit addressing previous immigration sweeps in 2018 and covers six states under the ICE field office based in Chicago: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

We will work tirelessly to ensure that people who were unlawfully arrested will be able to return to their families and communities as soon as possible,” said Keren Zwick of the National Immigrant Justice Center.

As this case unfolds, further developments are expected that will impact immigration policy and the rights of detainees.