The Trump administration said its Chicago-area immigration crackdown targeted “the worst of the worst” –– unauthorized immigrants who committed murder, rape and other violent crimes. But a Justice Department filing shows that only 16 of 614 people arrested by immigration agents had criminal histories. The other 598 had no criminal records at all.
The court filing, reported by the Chicago Tribune, comes amid litigation over warrantless arrests tied to “Operation Midway Blitz,” with a judge weighing bond and release conditions.
In a separate 607-person cohort, reported by CBS Chicago, the government categorized 78% of the arrestees as “low risk.” Just 7% were considered “high risk,” and that classification was not always tied to a criminal record.
As of Sept. 21, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) reports 59,762 people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention; 71.5% (42,755) had no criminal convictions. TRAC also notes that among convicted detainees, many offenses were minor, including traffic violations.
Separately, as of August 2025, only 1.59% of new Immigration Court cases sought deportation orders based on alleged criminal activity apart from possible illegal entry.
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What’s in the DOJ list
The 614-person list filed in U.S. District Court covers arrests before Oct. 7, the Tribune reported. Of the 16 with qualifying criminal histories, about 2.6%, none had been convicted of crimes like murder or rape. Five had been convicted of domestic battery, five of other forms of battery, two of driving under the influence and one on a narcotics charge. Details were not clear for the remaining arrestees.
Of the 598 people on the list who had no criminal history noted, 42 were still labeled “high risk” without explanation in the filing, the Tribune reported. The government has identified more than 3,300 arrests to date in the broader operation.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings said he would grant $1,500 bonds and electronic monitoring for in-custody arrestees not confirmed as safety risks or subject to prior removal orders. Cummings ordered 13 releases unless the government showed otherwise, the Tribune reported.
Separately, CBS Chicago reported U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis set a March hearing on whether to make permanent a preliminary injunction limiting immigration agents’ use of force in Chicago.
How arrests unfolded
Summarizing more than 150 petitions, Cummings said many arrests occurred at workplaces or during commutes, as well as outside homes and in public places, the Tribune reported. Those arrested included landscapers and taxi and ride-share drivers.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers argue those patterns undercut claims agents focused on violent offenders; the government says detention decisions should be evaluated case by case.
The Justice Department has asked to stay Cummings’ bond order pending appeal, the Tribune reported. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said on Fox News that agents would go “even harder” if court-ordered releases occur. The court expects a longer list of later arrests, including those by Border Patrol.
