Jon Seidel

Feds dropping charges against couple who lawfully carried guns outside ICE facility A defense attorney says a grand jury refused to indict in the high-profile case.

Federal prosecutors are dropping charges against the Chicago couple who lawfully carried guns outside Broadview's ICE facility last month.

A defense attorney tells @chicago.suntimes.com a grand jury refused to indict: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

#BREAKING Federal prosecutors in Chicago move to dismiss charges against the Chicago couple found with lawfully carried loaded firearms outside ICE's Broadview facility last month.

The case had been used nationally to argue ICE agents have been endangered by the protests there.

JUST IN: Federal prosecutors in Chicago move to dismiss "without prejudice" the charges against Huburt Mazur, who faced a misdemeanor charge stemming from ICE protests in Broadview.

Mazur's preliminary hearing was set for Wednesday morning.

Background: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

SEE YOU IN COURT: Today's @chicago.suntimes.com front page on Illinois v. Trump, the lawsuit seeking to block deployment of National Guard troops into Chicago.

Story w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...

Jesse Jackson Jr.'s past and future in the spotlight as he jumps back into political life Jackson Jr., 60, plans to announce his run for the open 2nd Congressional District seat this week, according to his spokesman.

On the comeback tour of Jesse Jackson Jr., another Illinois politician who once famously faced federal prison time.

Story by @chicago.suntimes.com National Political Reporter @tinasfon.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...

Thanks to everyone who followed along on a wild day today.

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b----' before shooting Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorn...

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b----' before shooting

@davidstruett.bsky.social and Kade Heather report via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Judge refuses to immediately block National Guard deployment to Illinois A federal judge said Monday she wouldn't hear arguments over Illinois' bid to block the deployment until Thursday, even after a Trump administration lawyer confirmed that Texas troops are on their way...

National Guard troops could hit Chicago streets as soon as Tuesday after a judge refused Illinois attorneys' plea to immediately block a deployment called “illegal, dangerous and unconstitutional.”

FINAL @chicago.suntimes.com story w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social : chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...

Ellis says that, if she could issue opinions anonymously, she would.

"I don't want to get threatening emails … I don't want the marshals sitting outside of my house."

But, she adds, "under the rule of law, it's important to be transparent."

US District Judge Sara Ellis in a hearing over ICE protests in Chicago:

"I can't tell you how many judges have been doxxed. I can't tell you how many judges have received death threats. … It's unfortunately part of the cost of doing business as a public servant in government."

Plaintiff attorney Locke Bowman tells Ellis, "there is indeed evidence that individuals are being targeted specifically, and in response to, their statements."

Ellis: "We've got to live in reality."

Ellis: "If people were showing up and saying 'I support ICE,' if people were showing up and saying 'remove people who are not here lawfully as fast as you possibly can,' … there is no way on God's green earth that those officers would be using tear gas, rubber bullets or anything else."

Ellis: "Now can they … wait to ambush me and knock me down as I come out of the elevator? No, they cannot."

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis tells Trump admin lawyer that, "as I understand Democracy … protesters could stand in front of the federal building here in the courthouse. They can stand on the sidewalks. They could peacefully come into the lobby."

A Trump administration lawyer responds that officers have been punched, had fireworks shot at them, and someone drove their car into an ICE officer's vehicle.

The complaint identifies the victim as "a senior law enforcement member of the Border Patrol Operation 'Midway Blitz' in Chicago."

Also amid today's whirlwind of fed court news, an alleged street gang member is accused of soliciting the murder of a "senior law enforcement official" involved in "Operation Midway Blitz."

Complaint here: cst.brightspotcdn.com/58/03/7d660c...

This hearing is finally underway. It begins with plaintiffs atty Jonathan Loevy telling the judge "the president has essentially declared war on the city of Chicago."

But "when they came looking for a fight, all they found was small groups of protesters obeying the law."

Switching now to a TRO hearing in the lawsuit below, alleging suppression of 1st Amendment rights at Broadview's ICE facility.

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Chicago Newspaper Guild, a plaintiff. I'm not an officer and was not involved in the filing: www.loevy.com/wp-content/u...

Hearing adjourned.

Perry: "If I were the government, I might strongly consider taking a pause on this until Thursday, so that we are not in a position where we are doing a full-fledged hearing with whatever has happened."

Perry: Oral argument Thursday.

Wells: "They should have to file it before the troops get here."

Still, Perry says the Trump administration deserves a chance to read the complaint. And so does she.

Perry tells Hamilton the "deadline to respond in writing" is Wednesday at midnight.

Wells: "That pattern has to stop. And this court, like the court in Oregon, has to put a stop to it."

Perry responds: "I'm also very troubled by the lack of answers."

Wells says "we need a TRO immediately." He references the feds' conduct in Oregon and accuses the Trump administration of a "concerted effort to target disfavored jurisdictions that the president doesn't like."

Hamilton has asked for a week to respond to the complaint.

Perry asks if Hamilton would be willing to hold off a week on troop deployment.

Hamilton: "I am not able to represent that we will do that."

Perry asks Hamilton if, once the troops are here, they could be deployed anywhere in the Northern District of Illinois.

He says he can't say.

Perry asks who they will be answering to. Hamilton ultimately says "to the president."

Trump attorney Eric Hamilton confirms that Texas troops are on the way, but they are not expected to begin performing their duties "until tomorrow at the earliest."