by Chicago, Ill. – A federal judge in Chicago has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release more than 600 illegal immigrants held at the Broadview ICE detention center, criticizing the agency for “repeated, material violations” of a court-approved consent decree, officials said.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ordered that the detainees be released on bond and enrolled in ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program by November 21, highlighting a “pattern of unlawful arrests and confinement.”
Background: Class-Action Lawsuit
The ruling stems from Margarito Castañon Nava v. DHS, a class-action lawsuit alleging that federal agents unlawfully detained hundreds of migrants not subject to mandatory detention or final removal orders. This, the suit claimed, violated a 2021 Biden-era consent decree that limited who could be detained, a policy inherited by the Trump administration.
Judge Cummings condemned DHS for keeping detainees in “unsafe and unsanitary conditions”, including overcrowding next to overflowing toilets, and noted that the department’s recent reversal on detention authority represented a “180-degree change” from prior legal interpretations.
Potential Largest Single-Day ICE Release in Illinois
If executed, the release could be the largest single-day release of ICE detainees in Illinois in years, affecting those arrested during “Operation Midway Blitz,” a Trump-era immigration sweep that immigration advocates say traumatized local communities.
“Today was a good day as the court ordered the immediate release of 13 people who have been wrongfully arrested and detained by federal immigration officials,” said Michelle Garcia, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Illinois.
“More than 600 others may soon walk free as the court enforces our agreement with the federal government — a step toward accountability for years of unlawful arrests.”
DHS Response
DHS officials sharply condemned the ruling, arguing that it undermines national security and law enforcement. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, told Fox News Digital:
“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 to be released into the community.”
Next Steps
Judge Cummings instructed DHS to identify detainees considered high public safety risks who may remain in custody and to file a compliance report by November 24. Authorities and advocacy groups are closely monitoring the implementation of the release order.
Do you think this ruling balances legal rights with public safety concerns? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on immigration enforcement and detainee rights.
