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The United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago for failing to cooperate and hindering the work of federal immigration authorities due to their “sanctuary cities” policy.
The lawsuit seeks to block state and local protections for undocumented immigrants and asks judges to overturn and declare unconstitutional the provisions that exist at the state and local level to protect this population.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, claims that sanctuary laws, such as Illinois’ TRUST Act, prevent state and local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws and violate the “Supremacy Clause” of the U.S. Constitution.
The document accuses the state and its governor, as well as the city of Chicago and its mayor and police superintendent, and Cook County, which includes Chicago, its commissioners and its sheriff.
“The challenged provisions of Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County law reflect their intentional effort to obstruct the federal government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to implement federal immigration law and keep Americans safe,” the lawsuit reads.
The 22-page document specifically references Illinois’ “Trust Act,” Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” and Cook County’s “Policy for Responding to ICE Detainers.”
Illinois’ Trust Act, enacted in 2017, “prevents state and local law enforcement from assisting the federal government with civil immigration enforcement, but allows coordination when a federal criminal warrant is in place,” as do Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” and Cook County’s policy.
The Chicago Law Department said it is reviewing the complaint and will respond “in due course” after a full review.
“Chicago is and will continue to be a welcoming city, with welcoming people working alongside their neighbors to build strong communities where families can still be raised,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
In a brief statement, Johnson stressed that the safety of Chicago residents remains his administration's priority.
“Chicago will continue to protect our city’s workers and defend itself against attacks on our long-held values. Chicago will remain focused on our priorities. We will continue to invest in mental health, youth employment, and affordable housing,” he stressed.
It should be noted that immigrant rights groups in Chicago have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the president's plans for immigration raids have targeted the "Windy City" because of its sanctuary status.
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