U.S Judge orders release of 600 migrants arrested in Trump’s Chicago crackdown

U.S Judge orders release of 600 migrants arrested in Trump’s Chicago crackdown

A U.S. federal judge has ordered the release on bond of hundreds of undocumented migrants arrested in Chicago as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, marking a major legal setback for the government’s enforcement drive.

District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ruled on Wednesday that detainees who are not considered security risks should be freed while awaiting the outcome of their immigration proceedings.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the order applies to migrants who were arrested without warrants or probable cause, in what the court described as unlawful detentions. The judge directed that the affected migrants be released on $1,500 bond each and placed under monitoring measures, such as electronic ankle bracelets.

The detainees were among thousands of undocumented migrants arrested during immigration raids across the Chicago area under an operation code-named “Midway Blitz.” Many others taken into custody have already been deported or have agreed to return to their home countries voluntarily.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sharply criticised the ruling, accusing the judiciary and local officials of undermining national security.

“At every turn, activist judges, sanctuary politicians, and violent rioters have actively tried to prevent our law enforcement officers from arresting and removing the worst of the worst,” DHS said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Now an activist judge is putting the lives of Americans directly at risk by ordering 615 illegal aliens be released into the community,” the agency added.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the raids violated the constitutional rights of the detainees.

The decision represents the latest legal blow to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, particularly in Chicago, a city led by Democratic officials who have resisted federal enforcement actions.

Trump has previously ordered the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago to curb violent crime and assist in immigration operations, but the move has been repeatedly blocked by federal courts.

Last month, the administration petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings preventing the Guard’s deployment.

So far in 2025, Trump has successfully sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Washington, and Memphis, but attempts to deploy forces in Portland and Chicago remain tied up in legal disputes.

U.S Judge orders release of 600 migrants arrested in Trump’s Chicago crackdown