Civil rights groups say ICE arrests were illegal
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents illegally arrested people — including many without criminal records and one U.S. citizen — during recent local raids, Chicago civil rights lawyers contend in a motion filed Thursday.
Why it matters: The motion suggests ICE is not targeting the "worst of the worst" as President Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, has claimed.
- ICE has not granted Axios' 6-week-old request for a list of those apprehended in Chicago and their alleged crimes.
Zoom in: The motion focuses on 22 people apprehended in the Midwest since Trump took office. It says some were arrested without proper warrants and, in at least one case, without probable cause.
- The attorneys argue this violates the Nava Settlement, a 2018 class-action lawsuit permitting ICE to make a warrantless arrest only if agents have evidence of probable flight risk. Attorneys say that assessment was not made in certain cases.
- As of Friday afternoon, two people remained in custody; 19 had been released on bond, and one had been deported, attorneys tell Axios.
- The National Immigrant Justice Center and ACLU filed the motion Thursday in U.S. District Court for the state's Northern District.
The attorneys are calling for the immediate release of detainees, refunds for bond payments and weekly reports on immigration arrests. They also want agents involved in the arrests to face training and discipline.
What they're saying: The cases show that "disproportionately folks that end up in immigration custody and possible deportation do not have criminal records," NIJC attorney Mark Fleming tells Axios.
- "In order to do mass deportation, they are going to be targeting individuals who have been otherwise law-abiding, have families and long-standing roots to the community."
The other side: ICE spokesperson David Yost declined to comment, citing the agency's policy against discussing pending litigation or its outcome.
Axios has also learned that ICE is $2 billion over budget as it ramps up deportations.
What's next: The family of one of the Illinois detainees is expected to speak to the media Monday morning.