Immigration activists accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of violating the civil rights of noncitizens they arrested during the first weeks of President Trump’s second term. The arrests occurred in Chicago and involved twenty-two people, one of whom is a U.S. citizen. This accusation is part of the latest issues due to increased immigration enforcement efforts by the Trump administration.

The advocacy groups argue the arrests violated a 2022 agreement between Chicago-based immigrants’ rights groups and the federal government on how ICE officers’ complete collateral arrests. In these types of arrests, agents detain other noncitizens in addition to those being targeted in immigration enforcement operations. The agreement, following a lawsuit over 2018 immigration enforcement efforts, applies to all ICE agencies and operations under the authority of the ICE office in Chicago.

Aggressive immigration enforcement is central to the Trump administration’s agenda, particularly in places such as Chicago that are considered sanctuary cities. Immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago were highly publicized, even though there have been few details about how the arrests took place. At least two of the twenty-two individuals arrested in these enforcement efforts remain detained, and one has been removed from the U.S.

While 2022 settlement only applies to six states, a new federal complaint could have nationwide implications for how ICE upholds the civil rights of those it detains. Advocacy groups from other states, for example, could join in the effort to reach a nation-wide settlement. The 2022 agreement, which ICE is accused of violating, isn’t scheduled to expire until May 2025.

As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.

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