Federal judge rules ICE violated consent decree in warrantless arrests
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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents violated a federal consent decree when President Donald Trump arrested nearly two dozen illegal immigrants at the start of his second term earlier this year.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings in Chicago federal court extended a consent decree limiting immigration officials’ authority to make warrantless arrests until February 2026.
Cummings also ordered ICE to begin issuing monthly disclosures about how many warrantless arrests agents make each month.
The ACLU of Illinois and other Chicago immigration advocates sued the Department of Homeland Security and ICE in March, alleging that the arrests of at least 22 people in January violated a 2022 consent decree that prohibits ICE from detaining people without a warrant or probable cause.
TRUMP SAYS CHICAGO MAYOR AND ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SHOULD BE SENTENCED IN PRISON FOR FAILING TO PROTECT ICE OFFICIALS
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents knock on the door of a residence during a multi-agency targeted enforcement operation on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Today’s decision makes clear that DHS and ICE — like everyone else — must comply with the Constitution and the law,” Michelle García, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois and co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. he said. “The federal government’s reckless practice of stopping, harassing, and detaining people and then finding justification for the action must end.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents make an arrest as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on immigrants in Chicago, Illinois, on January 26, 2025. (Report via Immigration and Customs Enforcement/REUTERS)
Trump deployed Texas National Guard troops to Illinois for an initial 60-day period this week to help his administration fight crime and deportation.
CHICAGO MAYOR CREATED ‘FROST-FREE ZONES’ TO PREVENT FEDERAL AGENTS FROM ACCESSING CITY PROPERTY
Chicago has tried to block ICE’s deportation efforts, with Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker filing lawsuits. Monday this attempt To prevent the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Illinois.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have pushed back on Trump’s plan to send in National Guard troops and increase ICE enforcement in Chicago. (Getty Images; Scott Olson)
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Johnson and Pritzker have clashed with Trump over immigration enforcement and the president’s decision to send National Guard troops to the state to protect federal personnel and property at a time when anti-ICE protests have escalated in Broadview, Illinois.
Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey and Alexandra Koch and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
