Hundreds detained as part of federal immigration 'Operation Midway Blitz' ordered released on bond, judge says
Share and Follow

A federal judge has announced plans to release up to 615 migrants on bond by November 19 in the Chicago area. These individuals were previously detained under the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”

Judge Jeffrey Cummings ruled in favor of the detainees’ attorneys, who argued that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) breached a consent decree limiting federal agents’ ability to make arrests without warrants. The judge has instructed the Trump administration to disclose the number of the 615 migrants currently in the U.S. and those with criminal records.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Migrants identified as having criminal records or posing a public safety risk will not be eligible for release. Those who qualify for release may be subject to monitoring through methods such as ankle bracelets.

An American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representative informed ABC News that an additional 13 migrants are scheduled for release within the next two days, without the requirement of ankle monitors.

The consent decree, which remains valid until February 2026, applies to Illinois and five nearby states. It generally prohibits federal immigration authorities from making warrantless arrests unless there is reasonable suspicion that an individual has committed an offense and is likely to evade detention.

In a social media post, DHS said the judge’s order puts Americans at risk.

“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. Now an ACTIVIST JUDGE is putting the lives of Americans directly at risk by ordering 615 illegal aliens be released into the community,” DHS said.

Last month, Judge Cummings ruled agents had violated a previously agreed-upon consent decree over warrantless arrests in the Chicago area known as the 2022 Castañon Nava settlement.

Since that ruling, attorneys on both sides of the case have been working to identify how many people arrested by immigration agents this year violated the previously agreed-upon consent decree.

Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center believes cases like these are happening daily.

“As we’re digging into it, we are very concerned that many, if not most [of ICE arrests], are violations of our consent decree,” Fleming told the I-Team.

Fleming said so far, the list of people arrested in violation of the consent decree has grown to more than 3,000 people.

“Our initial analysis is that it’s over 3,000 arrests,” Fleming told the I-Team. “We’ve started to dig into the case file that they produced to us, and the vast majority are violations. If they did not have a prior order of removal, in almost all circumstances, they’ve been uniformly violating the consent decree.”

So far, Fleming said that ICE has produced a list of 3,800 people, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol has given a list of 1,200 people, but he stressed that there may be duplicate entries on both lists, so his team does not have a solid total figure yet. Also, those lists were only through the beginning of October, and do not include arrests in the last month.

Attorneys representing the Department of Homeland Security have argued that Congress stripped federal courts of their authority to grant parole to large groups of immigrants in ICE custody.

In their filings, government attorneys argue, “Congress has vested the authority to grant parole solely with the Secretary of Homeland Security… Federal courts cannot order the Department of Homeland Security to release any aliens on parole because Congress has stripped them of that authority.”

In their review of people arrested by agents potentially in violation of the consent decree, Fleming said more than 1,000 people are no longer in the U.S., meaning they may have been deported already after signing voluntary removal orders.

“A lot of these folks have never had any interaction with law enforcement before, nor been subject to detention, and so it’s horrifying,” Fleming explained.

Fleming continued, “What we’ve raised to the court is if you don’t provide this interim relief, there will be no one left. At the end of this, we may find thousands of violations, but there may be no one left.”

ABC News contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Ex-pimp, his model wife and the riddle of their Alps property empire

Unraveling the Mystery: Ex-Pimp and Model Wife’s Enigmatic Alpine Real Estate Empire

The voice from the other end of the line in Switzerland carries…
JSO: Suspect arrested after fatal 2025 shooting at Northwest apartment complex

Jacksonville Authorities Arrest Suspect in Fatal 2025 Shooting at Northwest Apartment Complex

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the individual suspected in a recent…
BBB research reveals top 10 local scams to watch out for in 2026 

Unveiling the Future: Top 10 Local Scams to Beware of in 2026 According to BBB Research

In a remarkable turn of events, the number of top scams in…
Inside Alex Murdaugh's prison life as case could be set for RE-TRIAL

Exclusive Look: Alex Murdaugh’s Life Behind Bars Amid Possible Re-Trial

Nearly three years have passed since Alex Murdaugh, once at the helm…
'We deserve answers': One month later, family still searching for justice in Corey Denmark’s killing

Family Seeks Justice: Unanswered Questions Persist One Month After Corey Denmark’s Tragic Death

“Justice means sitting in a courtroom watching you pay for what you…
Portland police chief cries while confirming Tren de Aragua ties in CBP shooting

Portland Police Chief Emotionally Confirms Tren de Aragua Connection in CBP Incident

In an emotional press briefing on Friday, Portland’s police chief tearfully confirmed…
'Gunsmoke' star Roger Ewing dead at 83

Beloved ‘Gunsmoke’ Actor Roger Ewing Passes Away at 83: Celebrating His Iconic Legacy

Roger Ewing, the actor fondly remembered for his portrayal of Deputy Marshal…
Portland police chief cries while admitting DHS was right about Tren de Aragua ties in CBP shooting

Portland Police Chief Acknowledges Tren de Aragua Links in CBP Shooting, Shares Emotional Response

During a press briefing on Friday, Portland Police Chief Bob Day became…