Chicago Immigration Advocates Launch Fundraising Campaign To Help Free ICE Detainees

Immigration advocates in Chicago worry that the Trump administration is leveraging court delays to pressure detainees into signing voluntary departure agreements. In response, the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund has launched the "Midway to Freedom" campaign to raise funds for detainees' bond payments. The 7th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has halted a lower court's order that would have released more than 400 detainees without criminal records.

Alejandra Oliva, co-vice president of the bond fund, highlighted the community's overwhelming support for the fundraising initiative. The campaign aims to assist individuals arrested by ICE during a recent enforcement surge that involved approximately 3,300 arrests. Advocates assert that federal agents have violated consent decrees during these arrests, raising concerns about legality. Dave McDowell, a member of a local rapid response team, described witnessing ICE operations targeting community members. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment, leaving advocates uncertain about future actions.