DOJ Sues Illinois Over Sanctuary Laws
A group of advocates argues for keeping Chicago a sanctuary city last month. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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The Department of Justice filed suit Thursday against the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Cook County arguing sanctuary policies and laws limiting coordination with federal immigration officials are illegal.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, names Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, in addition to the state, city, and county.
The Trump Department of Justice argues the sanctuary laws “are designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.”
“Both the Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker and Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson, sued here in their official capacities, profess a shared interest with the Federal Government in enforcing immigration laws to effectuate the removal of such offenders from the United States,” the lawsuit states. “Upon information and belief, the conduct of officials in Chicago and Illinois minimally enforcing—and oftentimes affirmatively thwarting—federal immigration laws over a period of years has resulted in countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States.”
The DOJ alleges ICE has detained around 13,500 “aliens” in Illinois since 2016.
In a statement, the Governor’s office said the state is following federal law.
"Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law. The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today. Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals. Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump Administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court."
Republicans who made public statements Thursday nearly universally stood with the Trump administration.
“Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have failed to enforce the laws of our country allowing illegal immigrants to flood our communities,” said Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Peoria). “Under President Trump, this will not be tolerated. I applaud the Department of Justice’s decision to sue the City of Chicago, the state of Illinois, and Cook County and I look forward to working with the administration to ensure the laws of the land are fully enforced.”
It’s the latest swing in a long-running boxing match between Trump and Chicago, which he has repeatedly attacked since emerging on the national political stage a decade ago.
