In a significant development in the ongoing immigration enforcement saga, a US appeals court has temporarily halted the release of hundreds of individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Illinois. This decision comes after the Trump administration challenged a federal judge’s ruling that had ordered the release of approximately 450 detainees. The detainees, part of a broader operation known as ‘Midway Blitz,’ were arrested in September as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants, particularly in Chicago, a Democratic stronghold. Last week, a federal judge in Chicago sided with lawyers representing over 600 detainees, arguing that their arrests lacked reasonable grounds or outstanding warrants. The judge had planned to release the detainees on Friday, contingent on each paying $1,500 in bail and agreeing to surveillance measures like ankle monitors. However, the appeals court has now suspended this release pending a hearing scheduled for December 2. Since taking office, Trump has prioritized stringent immigration policies, frequently framing the issue as an ‘invasion.’ This latest legal battle underscores the contentious nature of immigration enforcement under his administration.