Court Orders Mass Release of Detainees From Chicago Immigration Sweep

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of hundreds of people detained during Chicago’s recent immigration crackdown, delivering a major setback to the enforcement campaign and raising questions about the legality of the operations.

The ruling, issued late Tuesday, follows days of mounting criticism from legal advocates who argued that many of those detained had been arrested without proper warrants, documentation, or due process protections. The judge agreed, stating that the government had “failed to demonstrate lawful grounds” for holding the majority of detainees swept up in the operation.

The crackdown, carried out over a two-week period, involved large coordinated raids across several Chicago neighborhoods. Immigration agents targeted individuals suspected of overstaying visas or lacking legal residency status, but attorneys say many of those taken into custody were detained solely because they lived or worked near targeted locations.

In a sharply worded opinion, the judge said the mass detentions violated constitutional standards and ordered federal authorities to release the individuals unless specific, legally sufficient evidence was presented in individual cases.

Outside detention centers, families and advocates gathered as news of the release spread, some waiting through the night for loved ones to be processed and discharged. Many expressed relief but also anger, accusing federal officials of using fear and intimidation rather than legitimate enforcement measures.

City leaders, who had clashed with federal authorities over the scope and tactics of the operation, welcomed the ruling. Chicago officials reiterated that they were not notified of the raids in advance and had limited ability to monitor their conduct.

Federal agencies involved in the operation have not publicly commented on the judge’s decision or indicated whether they will appeal.

For now, hundreds of detainees are expected to return home as legal groups prepare potential lawsuits on their behalf, arguing that the crackdown represents one of the most sweeping civil liberties violations in the city in recent years.

Article: M.J