Justice Department Sues Illinois Governor Over Migrant Protections at Courthouses
CHICAGO, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Monday against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, challenging recently enacted state laws designed to protect migrants from immigration arrests at courthouses, hospitals, day care centers, and other sensitive locations. The federal government argues that these laws are unconstitutional and jeopardize the safety of federal officers conducting immigration enforcement.
Earlier this month, Gov. Pritzker signed legislation that prohibits civil immigration arrests at and around courthouses throughout Illinois. The laws also mandate that hospitals, day care centers, and public universities establish procedures to safeguard personal information and manage civil immigration operations. Additionally, these measures provide legal remedies for individuals whose constitutional rights are violated during immigration raids, including monetary damages of up to $10,000 for unlawful arrests occurring while attending court proceedings.
The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice, contends that the state’s protective measures interfere with federal immigration enforcement efforts and undermine public safety. The DOJ statement emphasized concerns that restricting immigration agents’ ability to make arrests in these locations could hinder their ability to apprehend individuals who pose security risks.
Governor Pritzker, a Democrat and vocal opponent of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, has defended the laws as necessary to prevent what his office describes as indiscriminate and sometimes violent detentions of migrants. A spokesperson for the governor’s office, Jillian Kaehler, stated, “The Trump administration’s masked agents are not targeting the ‘worst of the worst’ — they are harassing and detaining law-abiding U.S. citizens and Black and brown people at daycares, hospitals and courthouses.” She clarified that the governor supports arresting migrants who commit violent crimes but opposes the broad tactics employed by federal agents.
This legal battle follows a federal policy shift earlier this year when the Biden administration’s restrictions on immigration arrests in sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, and churches were reversed. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Operation Midway Blitz, launched in September 2025 in the Chicago area, resulted in over 4,000 arrests. However, data from the Department of Homeland Security showed that only 15% of those arrested had criminal records, with most offenses being minor traffic violations, misdemeanors, or nonviolent felonies.
The Illinois laws also reflect growing concerns among immigrant advocacy groups and civil rights organizations about the impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on communities. The American Civil Liberties Union has criticized federal immigration raids for violating constitutional protections and fostering fear among immigrant populations.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it marks another chapter in the ongoing conflict between state policies aimed at protecting immigrant communities and federal efforts to enforce immigration laws. The outcome could have significant implications for how immigration enforcement is conducted in Illinois and potentially other states with similar sanctuary policies.
For more information on federal immigration enforcement policies, visit the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
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