A Chicago judge delivered a scathing rebuke to the Department of Homeland Security, ordering the release of over 600 immigrants held at a suburban detention center. The ruling stemmed from what the judge termed “repeated, material violations” of a court-approved agreement designed to limit who could be detained under U.S. immigration law.
Judge Jeffrey Cummings mandated that the detainees at the Broadview ICE facility be released on bond and placed in the Alternatives to Detention program by November 21st. He cited a “pattern of unlawful arrests and confinement” as the core reason for his decision, exposing a systemic issue within the detention process.
The case, *Margarito Castañon Nava v. DHS*, began as a class-action lawsuit alleging that federal agents were illegally detaining migrants who weren’t subject to mandatory detention or final removal orders. This directly contradicted a 2021 decree, initially established during the Biden administration but originating from a legal framework inherited from the Trump era.
The judge’s ruling didn’t stop at legal violations; it painted a grim picture of the conditions within the detention center. Cummings accused DHS of maintaining “unsafe and unsanitary” facilities, detailing overcrowding and proximity to “overflowing toilets” as evidence of neglect.
Adding to the severity of the accusations, the judge highlighted a dramatic shift in the department’s interpretation of detention authority, calling it a “180-degree change.” This reversal fueled concerns about the arbitrary nature of detentions and the disregard for established legal precedents.
The potential release represents the largest single-day release of ICE detainees in Illinois in recent years, impacting hundreds arrested during “Operation Midway Blitz.” This Trump-era enforcement sweep remains a source of trauma for many communities across the Chicago area, according to immigration activists.
Advocates celebrated the ruling as a victory for justice and accountability. Michelle Garcia, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Illinois, described it as a step toward holding the federal government responsible for “years of unlawful arrests,” noting the immediate release of 13 wrongfully detained individuals.
However, DHS officials vehemently condemned the decision, arguing it jeopardizes national security and hinders law enforcement efforts. They accused the judge of overstepping boundaries and prioritizing the rights of those in the country illegally over the safety of American citizens.
A DHS spokesperson stated that activist judges and politicians were actively obstructing law enforcement’s ability to arrest and remove individuals deemed “the worst of the worst.” The release of 615 detainees, they argued, directly puts American lives at risk.
Judge Cummings has directed DHS to identify any detainees considered “high public safety risks” who might remain in custody. The department is required to submit a compliance report detailing these cases by November 24th, adding another layer of scrutiny to the unfolding situation.
