Chicago’s federal appeals court put a short-term hold on a judge’s order that aimed to release as many as 615 people detained by immigration authorities this year, with certain conditions, scheduling arguments on the matter for Dec. 2.

The ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, known as an administrative stay, means the release of potentially hundreds of people, expected Friday, will be delayed. However, the court has yet to grant the longer-term stay pending appeal sought by the Justice Department.

The move sets the stage for the first appeals court argument to result from the aggressive deportation campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”

While handing down the order in question last week, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings said it wasn’t clear how many of the 615 peo

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