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7th Circuit lifts injunction restricting immigration agents in Chicago

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A federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a lower court injunction restricting the use of force by immigration officers during Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s largest enforcement operation in Chicago.

A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to vacate the district court’s preliminary injunction and dismiss the appeal, saying the lower court “issued an overly broad, constitutionally questionable injunction.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi called the decision a “major legal win” for the Trump administration.

“@thejusticedept hands President Trump a major legal victory in the 7th Circuit in support of Operation Midway Blitz, @POTUS’ vital law enforcement drive in Chicago,” he posted on X. “President Trump is trying to protect American citizens while local elected officials REJECT it. @thejusticedept lawyers were proud to argue this case. We will continue to fight for the President’s law and order agenda and WIN.”

Police detained two people as tear gas filled the air after being used by federal law enforcement during a confrontation with community members and activists who reportedly shot a woman in the Brighton Park neighborhood on October 4, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Federal immigration authorities stepped up enforcement efforts last fall as part of Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, which led to violent clashes between protesters and officers.

In October, protesters and journalists sued several federal agencies, arguing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated their First and Fourth Amendment rights by using tear gas and other chemical agents to disperse demonstrations.

The district court sided with the plaintiffs and issued a preliminary injunction regulating federal immigration enforcement efforts. The federal government objected.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi called the 7th Circuit’s decision to strike down restrictions on federal immigration officials a “major legal win” for the Trump administration. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The plaintiffs then asked the district court to dismiss the case, stating that Operation Midway Blitz had ended. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis granted the motion in January.

The majority opinion criticized Ellis’ decision to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” which allows the case to be reopened.

“Because the district court dismissed this case without prejudice (against plaintiffs’ unopposed motion to dismiss), any class members or lead plaintiffs may re-file these claims tomorrow,” they wrote. “They may ask the district court to reimpose a nearly identical preliminary injunction, adopting the facts and legal reasoning in the district court’s decision.”

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U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago after a court appearance.

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct. 28 amid a legal review of federal enforcement tactics used during Operation Midway Blitz. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The 7th Circuit also granted a “vacatur” order, effectively invalidating Ellis’ prior injunction.

The judges said vacatur was “the best way to clear up the situation now” and was “appropriate to ensure that the district court’s injunction does not affect future litigation.”