CHICAGO (AP) — A coalition of protesters, journalists, and faith leaders moved Tuesday to dismiss their lawsuit challenging the aggressive tactics of federal immigration officers in the Chicago area, arguing that the Trump administration’s 'Operation Midway Blitz' has largely ended.
While the plaintiffs viewed this move as a victory, the case was approaching a skeptical appeals court. The court filing noted that federal officers led by senior U.S. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino are no longer operating in the Northern District of Illinois. Bovino left the Chicago area last month, although sporadic immigration arrests have continued under other agents.
'We won our case the day they left town,' said David B. Owens, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. 'The people of Chicago stood up to the Trump administration’s bullying and intimidation, showing them they were messing with the wrong city.'
Attorneys referenced a blistering 223-page opinion by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that issued a preliminary injunction restricting agents' use of force. The order was prompted by an earlier lawsuit claiming that federal officers used excessive force during an immigration crackdown that resulted in over 3,000 arrests since September across the city and its suburbs.
Despite the district court's ruling, a pending appeals process leads to uncertainty regarding the ultimate fate of the injunction. According to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the previous order was deemed 'overbroad' but noted a tailored injunction could still be possible.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys did not provide immediate comments regarding the dismissal of the lawsuit. This culminates months of efforts from the activist community advocating for the rights of immigrants and those involved in related protests. The case's conclusion highlights ongoing tensions related to immigration enforcement and the rights of individuals amidst federal operations.
While the plaintiffs viewed this move as a victory, the case was approaching a skeptical appeals court. The court filing noted that federal officers led by senior U.S. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino are no longer operating in the Northern District of Illinois. Bovino left the Chicago area last month, although sporadic immigration arrests have continued under other agents.
'We won our case the day they left town,' said David B. Owens, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. 'The people of Chicago stood up to the Trump administration’s bullying and intimidation, showing them they were messing with the wrong city.'
Attorneys referenced a blistering 223-page opinion by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that issued a preliminary injunction restricting agents' use of force. The order was prompted by an earlier lawsuit claiming that federal officers used excessive force during an immigration crackdown that resulted in over 3,000 arrests since September across the city and its suburbs.
Despite the district court's ruling, a pending appeals process leads to uncertainty regarding the ultimate fate of the injunction. According to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the previous order was deemed 'overbroad' but noted a tailored injunction could still be possible.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys did not provide immediate comments regarding the dismissal of the lawsuit. This culminates months of efforts from the activist community advocating for the rights of immigrants and those involved in related protests. The case's conclusion highlights ongoing tensions related to immigration enforcement and the rights of individuals amidst federal operations.
