The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Chicago, alleging that local officials are obstructing federal immigration enforcement as part of Donald Trump’s intensified deportation efforts.
The lawsuit, which names Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also aims to overturn local laws that it argues “interfere with and discriminate against” federal immigration policies.
Chicago is among several cities that have pledged to resist federal efforts to detain and deport undocumented migrants, directly challenging the Trump administration’s immigration stance.
This week, newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced the administration’s position, stating her intent to cut federal funding for so-called “sanctuary cities.”
The term “sanctuary city” has been widely used in the U.S. for over a decade to describe jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Since it is not a legal classification, cities have adopted different measures to declare themselves “sanctuaries,” ranging from enacting formal policies to modifying local law enforcement practices.
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In Illinois, the state’s “Trust Act” prohibits local law enforcement from detaining individuals solely based on an immigration detainer or warrant. It also restricts local agencies from participating in immigration operations or sharing detainee information.
A similar ordinance in Chicago bars city agencies and employees from assisting federal immigration authorities and prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from accessing detainees or utilizing city facilities for investigations.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit seeks to invalidate these laws, asserting that they “impede the Federal Government’s ability to regulate immigration and take enforcement actions against illegal aliens.”
State of Chicago – Sanctuary City LawsDuring a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border enforcement chief, criticized sanctuary cities, stating they serve as “sanctuaries for criminals.”
“We’re going to hold them accountable and take them to court,” Homan said, further arguing that Illinois authorities are not required to detain suspects beyond the necessary timeframe. “Just let us in there,” he added.
Illinois Governor Pritzker, in a statement to the BBC, pushed back against the lawsuit, stating that “unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law.” He emphasized that the Trust Act—signed into law by former Republican Governor Bruce Rauner—”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,” the statement read.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reaffirmed the city’s commitment to its sanctuary policies in a January interview with NPR.
“Whether you’re undocumented, whether you are seeking asylum or whether you’re seeking a good-paying job, we’re going to fight and stand up for the working people,” Johnson stated.
Shortly after being sworn into office, Attorney General Bondi issued a memo to Justice Department employees, emphasizing that federal funding would be cut from any jurisdiction that obstructs immigration enforcement.
“State and local jurisdictions must comply with applicable immigration-related federal laws,” the memo stated, further asserting that “state and local actors may not impede, obstruct, or otherwise fail to comply with lawful immigration-related directives.”
Since taking office on January 20, the Trump administration has escalated immigration enforcement in major U.S. cities, detaining thousands of undocumented individuals, including both criminals and those without criminal records.
Homan reported that approximately 11,000 people had been arrested within the country’s interior since Trump’s inauguration.
Meanwhile, Trump’s immigration policies faced a legal setback on Thursday when a federal judge in Washington state ruled that his attempt to terminate birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented or temporary-status parents was “unconstitutional.”