32 arrested in Chicago ICE operation violated consent decree, federal judge rules
Feb 28, 2026·Location: Chicago, IL

A federal judge ruled that at least 32 people arrested during Operation Midway Blitz, a major ICE enforcement action in the Chicago area between June 2025 and October 2025, had their arrests violated a 2022 consent decree governing warrantless apprehensions. Among those improperly arrested were Jose Miguel Jimenez and Jeickson Delgado Avila, undocumented immigrants detained during a September 29 raid on an apartment building at 75th and South Shore Drive when ICE agents rappelled from helicopters and broke down doors. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings found the arrests lacked sufficient probable cause that individuals were flight risks, as required by the Castañon Nava consent decree, and that agents provided no justification for their assessments. Of the 32 improperly arrested, 11 are believed to still be in detention, 11 have left the country, and 10 have been released under various conditions. The judge also rejected a recent agency directive that sought to give immigration agents more discretion to make warrantless arrests.
Timeline
Sources
- More Than 30 Warrantless Midway Blitz Arrests Violated Consent Decree, Judge Rules
blockclubchicago.org·Feb 28, 2026·archived copy
- Judge rules 4 arrested by ICE without warrants in 'Midway Blitz' in Chicago area should be released
abc7chicago.com·Feb 14, 2026·archived copy
- Two arrests in infamous South Shore immigration raid among dozens that violated consent decree, judge rules
Yahoo News·Feb 28, 2026·archived copy
- Injunction ruling provides new look at Operation Midway Blitz, from tear gas to agent using ChatGPT to help write report
Chicago Tribune·Nov 20, 2025·archived copy
- ICE Violated Consent Decree With Warrantless Arrests, Federal Judge In Chicago Says
blockclubchicago.org·Oct 8, 2025·archived copy
- Federal judge in Chicago finds ICE repeatedly violated consent decree over ‘warrantless arrests’
Chicago Tribune·Oct 8, 2025·archived copy
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