Not surprising, but if USA v. Juan Espinoza Martinez goes to trial, the feds want to ask potential jurors if they have thoughts about "Operation Midway Blitz." Martinez is accused of putting a $10K bounty on Greg Bovino. Trial is set for 1/20. Background: https://t.co/LCiRVEg1Fj

Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center tells me that, despite the ruling's bottom line, the 7th Circuit is now the first federal appeals court to reject the Trump administration's new reading of immigration law — used to hold people in mandatory detention.

Federal appeals court blocks release of hundreds, but Trump still loses in mixed immigration ruling From @Suntimes on tonight's complicated ruling from the 7th Circuit:

FLAGGING: Though it blocked Judge Cummings' release order, this 7th Circuit opinion finds the Trump administration is "not likely to succeed" on its claim that detainees are subject to mandatory detention under a new reading of immigration law. That "upends decades of practice."

The appeals panel was told that "half of the remaining 442 were arrested pursuant to field-issued I-200 warrants, while the other half were arrested without any warrant," Judge Lee notes in the opinion.

Opinion written by Judge John Lee (Biden appointee), with dissent by Judge Thomas Kirsch (Trump appointee).

#BREAKING The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has BLOCKED the order from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings that aimed to release hundreds detained by ICE, under the terms below. Full opinion here: https://t.co/Joz8CmO5c9

Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III gets 'early Christmas gift,' strikes deal to avoid conviction UPDATED @Suntimes story:

Court's adjourned. Wood set another status for Jan. 8, in case any issues with the fine need to be addressed.

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Wood says the fine at issue is $6,800. Jones had been accused of protecting a red-light camera exec in the Illinois Senate in exchange for $5,000 and a job for a former intern, who was paid $1,800.

DEVELOPING: Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III strikes deal with feds to avoid conviction in bribery case From @Suntimes:

FWIW, Wood has acknowledged this is not her first experience with deferred prosecution agreements. She initially handled the DPA struck by ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis:

Wood says she'll approve the agreement, despite the wrinkle with the fine. She finds the deal has been made in good faith and there's no reason to hold things up. She says the parties may bring an amended deal to her within 14 days, if necessary.

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Things have hit a bit of a speed bump, though, over a provision in the deal that requires Jones to pay a fine. Wood asked, if he's not being convicted of anything, why a fine? Defense attorneys say they want to research that question — but still enter the deal today.

Wood just asked Jones a series of questions about the deal, including whether he wants to go forward with it. "Absolutely," Jones tells her.

This comes about two months after the feds struck a similar deal with ex-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza in another corruption case:

Assistant U.S. Attorney Prashant Kolluri tells the judge it's a one-year deal, and that it contains a "number of admissions" by Jones, which could also spare him from conviction.

#BREAKING U.S. District Andrea Wood says she has received a signed deferred prosecution agreement to resolve the bribery case against Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III. His first trial ended with a hung jury. BACKGROUND:

Today it was Judge Robert Gettleman. Last week it was Judge Sara Ellis: https://t.co/OxXGaqN4rH

Another federal judge in Chicago tried this morning to get answers out of a Justice Department lawyer about whether the city will see another immigration enforcement surge like the one this fall. The DOJ again refused to answer, insisting that's "sensitive" law enforcement info.