Trump Administration Files Lawsuit Against Illinois to Challenge Sanctuary Protections for Undocumented Immigrants

February 7, 2025 TruthUSA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking legal action against the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, claiming that their immigration laws hinder federal enforcement and provide protection to individuals residing illegally from deportation.

The DOJ has initiated a lawsuit against Chicago, Illinois, and several state officials, asserting that the city’s and state’s immigration policies and sanctuary designations obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

This complaint, filed on February 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that various local and state regulations interfere with the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws, thereby violating the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.

The lawsuit claims that by declining to comply with civil detainers and warrants issued by Congress, Illinois and Chicago have dismantled essential tools utilized by federal immigration authorities, undermining their responsibilities.

“The actions of officials in Chicago and Illinois, which involve minimal enforcement and often active obstruction of federal immigration laws over several years, have resulted in numerous criminals being released into Chicago who should have been detained for removal from the United States,” the lawsuit contends.

The Trust Act forbids law enforcement from detaining or arresting individuals based solely on their immigration status or federal detainers. Additionally, the Way Forward Act broadens these prohibitions by preventing local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, including not notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or detaining individuals for immigration-related reasons. Chicago’s local ordinance—commonly known as a “sanctuary city” law—protects residents from being prosecuted solely due to their immigration status and prohibits arrests based on that status.

The DOJ asserts that these regulations are at odds with federal immigration laws, including the recently enacted Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of specific illegal immigrants who have committed additional crimes. The Trump administration seeks to have these three local statutes deemed invalid.

The lawsuit cites President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration at the southern border, asserting that many individuals unlawfully residing in the country present significant risks to national security and public safety, and that sanctuary policies afford them refuge.

“This national crisis is further compounded as some of these individuals find shelter from federal law enforcement in these so-called Sanctuary Cities, where they cohabit with unsuspecting Americans, who may eventually become their victims,” the lawsuit claims.

According to data from ICE highlighted in the lawsuit, Removal Operations made 13,564 arrests of illegal immigrants in Illinois, issuing 11,036 detainers over a ten-year period through 2025.

“Among those arrested, numerous individuals faced serious charges, including assault, larceny, and offences related to drugs and sexual crimes,” the lawsuit claims.

There has been no response from the offices of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson regarding the lawsuit.

This legal action comes on the heels of intensified immigration enforcement operations in Chicago that targeted violent offenders but raised concerns over the potential arrest of undocumented immigrants who have not committed any crimes beyond entering the U.S. unlawfully, as many maintain strong community ties, including employment.

Advocacy groups for immigrants have expressed worries that even individuals with lawful status may inadvertently be caught in the deportation sweeps. Despite the Trump administration’s reassurances that they would not target legally residing individuals, there have been instances where citizens and legal residents were mistakenly detained.

Governor Pritzker has voiced his disapproval of the aggressive federal enforcement, cautioning it could deter workers who are in the U.S. unlawfully but have not engaged in other criminal activities. In a statement on CNN’s “State of the Union” on January 26, he expressed his support for removing violent offenders but underscored the importance of safeguarding long-term residents who positively contribute to society.

“We must eliminate the violent offenders, but we also need to safeguard the decent residents of Illinois and people across the nation, who are simply trying to fulfill the very hopes we have for immigrants,” Pritzker stated.

At the same time, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the DOJ to cease federal funding for sanctuary cities, increasing friction between the federal government and jurisdictions that provide safe harbor to undocumented immigrants.

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