Monday

07-28-2025 Vol 2035

Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Against Illinois Sanctuary Policies

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit initiated by the Trump administration against Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago regarding their sanctuary policies that prohibit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

District Judge Lindsay Jenkins, who presides over the Northern District of Illinois and was appointed by President Joe Biden, ruled on Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lacked standing in the case.

However, Judge Jenkins did permit the DOJ to amend their lawsuit by August 22.

This lawsuit, filed in February, accused state and local governance of obstructing federal immigration law, claiming violations of the 10th Amendment, which outlines the distribution of powers between state and federal authorities.

The DOJ has not yet indicated whether they intend to file an appeal regarding the dismissal.

The Department of Homeland Security has recently escalated deportation raids, especially in large urban areas with sanctuary laws.

In her 64-page ruling, Jenkins wrote, “The Sanctuary Policies reflect Defendants’ decision to not participate in enforcing civil immigration law – a decision protected by the Tenth Amendment and not preempted by [the federal Immigration and Nationality Act].”

She further elaborated that recognizing the same policy provisions as discriminatory would ultimately undermine the Tenth Amendment.

She stated, “It would allow the federal government to commandeer States under the guise of intergovernmental immunity – the exact type of direct regulation of states barred by the Tenth Amendment.”

DOJ lawyers had contended that sanctuary cities violated the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.

In 2017, then-Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican, enacted the Trust Act, which prevents state and local law enforcement from participating in the separation efforts coordinated by U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement and other federal agencies.

This Act permits some degree of cooperation among various agencies.

In addition, a 2021 state law prohibits local and state officials from sharing a person’s custody status, release date, or contact information with federal immigration authorities.

Rauner was succeeded in office by J.B. Pritzker, who recently testified before a U.S. House committee concerning sanctuary policies.

Pritzker’s spokesman, Matt Hill, indicated that the governor’s personal background—being the grandchild of Ukrainian refugees—illustrates how immigration is integral to America’s narrative, economy, and culture.

He added, “Illinois ensures law enforcement time and energy is spent fighting crime – not carrying out the Trump administration’s unlawful policies or troubling tactics.”

In a statement shared via social media platform X, Pritzker celebrated the dismissal of the lawsuit, highlighting that it challenges the bipartisan Trust Act.

“Unlike the President, we follow the law and listen to the courts,” he remarked.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul pointed out that in a 1997 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that federal officials cannot compel states to provide police services without compensation.

Moreover, in 1985, then-Chicago Mayor Harold Washington signed an executive order designating Chicago as a sanctuary city.

In 2006, the city reinforced its stance by enacting the Welcoming City ordinance, ensuring that all residents can access city services, including police protection and medical care.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was also named in the lawsuit, affirmed, “We will continue to fight for the dignity of our immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities and stand up for the rights of all Chicagoans against any federal overreach.”

The federal lawsuit also targeted Cook County based on its policies that restrict ICE agents from accessing the county jail or other facilities unless they provide a criminal warrant not related to immigration matters.

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke criticized the Trump administration’s attempts to pressure local communities into adopting specific policies, asserting that such moves are both unlawful and contrary to community values and public safety.

“We need victims and witnesses of crime to feel comfortable coming forward, just as we are compelled to hold those who commit crimes accountable,” Burke stated.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois supported the court’s decision, stating, “The court was correct to reject the Trump Administration’s lawsuit and to allow public officials in Illinois and Chicago to follow our policies that prioritize local public safety and welfare over federal civil immigration enforcement.”

In January 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that stripped funding from sanctuary cities.

In February 2020, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that her agency was filing a civil lawsuit against New York over immigration enforcement.

This follows a broader initiative where the DOJ has also targeted states like California and New Jersey, emphasizing a larger crackdown on sanctuary policies in numerous jurisdictions.

Currently, there are 13 sanctuary states, including New York and Illinois, alongside several sanctuary cities located outside these states, such as Atlanta, Louisville, Baltimore, and New Orleans, among others.

Notably, sanctuary policies are not present in Texas or Arizona, the two states bordering Mexico, while nearby New Mexico and California do maintain such laws.

image source from:upi

Benjamin Clarke