In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump issued a pardon to Texas Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat facing charges of bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering. Trump, in a Truth Social post, cited the charges as a result of a weaponized justice system and argued Cuellar was targeted for speaking out against border policies. The Department of Justice alleged Cuellar accepted significant bribes from foreign entities, a claim that Trump dismissed. Cuellar, known for his conservative stances and support of Republican bills, was scheduled to face trial in 2026.
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A federal judge has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Colorado have been making unlawful arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. The judge found that ICE was making warrantless arrests without probable cause, specifically lacking evidence of a flight risk, and rebuked the agency for detaining individuals with strong community ties. The court sided with four plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, ordering ICE to halt these practices and potentially repay bond money. ICE has indicated it will appeal the decision, arguing against the ruling’s impact on deporting criminal illegal aliens.
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A Chicago federal court has placed new restrictions on ICE operations in the Midwest, extending court oversight until February 2, 2026, due to repeated violations of federal law and a previous consent decree regarding warrantless arrests. The court found that ICE agents frequently arrested individuals without warrants, often documenting the basis for arrest after the fact. The ruling requires ICE to reissue its national policy on warrantless arrests, retrain personnel, and provide detailed monthly reports. This decision, a rare rebuke of federal immigration enforcement, underscores the importance of due process and accountability, potentially leading to contempt proceedings against individual agents who violate the order.
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A U.S. District Judge has found that ICE agents violated a consent decree concerning warrantless arrests in the Chicago area and unlawfully detained over two dozen individuals. The ruling, part of an extended consent decree lasting until 2026, imposes limits on such arrests and requires ICE to report the number of warrant-less arrests. This stems from a lawsuit accusing ICE of violating the 2022 Castañon Nava settlement, which established conditions for warrant-less arrests. The court found ICE’s arguments for carrying blank warrant forms meritless, ordering retraining for violating officers and increased reporting requirements.
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Internal ICE emails reveal instructions from senior officials to significantly increase arrests, including those of undocumented individuals encountered incidentally (“collaterals”), even without warrants. These directives, urging officers to be more creative and “push the envelope,” represent a major escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The push for increased arrests follows pressure from high-level officials to reach daily apprehension targets of at least 3,000. This approach disregards previous court settlements requiring warrants for arrests and raises concerns about potential legal violations and abuses.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Judge: ICE Arrests of Suspected Illegal Immigrants Unlawful
A federal judge has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Colorado have been making unlawful arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. The judge found that ICE was making warrantless arrests without probable cause, specifically lacking evidence of a flight risk, and rebuked the agency for detaining individuals with strong community ties. The court sided with four plaintiffs represented by the ACLU, ordering ICE to halt these practices and potentially repay bond money. ICE has indicated it will appeal the decision, arguing against the ruling’s impact on deporting criminal illegal aliens.
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