Judge Challenges Trump-Era Immigration Raids ⚖️
This week, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings shook up Chicago’s immigration landscape by ordering the release on bond of hundreds of undocumented migrants arrested without probable cause during the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz.
His ruling covers 615 detainees who are not considered security risks and were picked up in warrantless arrests across the city. They can leave detention by posting a $1,500 bond and agreeing to monitoring measures such as electronic ankle bracelets. 👣🔗
Operation Midway Blitz swept up thousands of migrants this year, many of whom have since been deported or opted to depart voluntarily. But civil rights groups, including the National Immigrant Justice Center and the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged the legality of the raids, leading to Cummings’ decision.
The Department of Homeland Security blasted the ruling on X, calling it a win for 'activist judges' and claiming public safety is at risk. Meanwhile, advocates see it as a victory for due process and human rights. 🙌
This verdict also deals a blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago to support immigration enforcement. Courts have already blocked his orders for troops in Chicago and Portland, though he’s successfully sent forces to Los Angeles, Washington and Memphis earlier this year.
For now, hundreds of migrants will await their immigration hearing free from detention, offering a new chapter in the ongoing debate over immigration policy in America’s third-largest city. 🌎🗽
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U.S. judge orders hundreds of arrested migrants released on bond
cgtn.com
