CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked the immediate release of hundreds of immigrants detained during a recent immigration crackdown in the Chicago area while allowing for the extension of a consent decree. In a split ruling on Thursday, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that the lower court had overstepped its authority in tackling the blanket release of detainees without considering individual cases.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ordered the release of over 600 detainees following findings that the government violated previous agreements dictating how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could make warrantless arrests. The appeals court has now paused that release, leaving around 450 individuals still in custody, according to reports from attorneys.
The consent decree was initially instituted back in 2022 and requires ICE to provide documentation for arrests. This ruling follows a broader backdrop of increased immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration, leading to thousands of arrests in the Chicago area alone.
Despite the disappointment expressed by attorneys representing the detainees, they acknowledged the ruling upheld key points of the consent decree, including the necessity of documentation for arrests. Advocates have expressed concerns that many detainees might be at risk of deportation without understanding their rights or options.
In the wake of the ruling, advocates like Keren Zwick of the National Immigrant Justice Center pledged to continue advocating for those unlawfully detained, promising efforts to reunite them with their families as soon as possible.
The extended agreement now remains in effect until February, as the federal government attempts to resolve ongoing legal challenges regarding its implementation. The consent decree applies not only to Illinois but also to immigrant arrest protocols across several surrounding states, including Indiana and Missouri.
