President Trump’s Justice Department sued the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago and local officials Thursday over laws creating a so-called “sanctuary city.”
Accusing the officials of impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts, the Justice Department asked a judge to declare the state and local measures unconstitutional because of the federal government’s supremacy.
“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 between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, is one of the first major cases brought by the new administration’s Justice Department. It comes after the Senate Wednesday confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi, who on her first day issued a memo restricting sanctuary cities from accessing Justice Department funds.
It is part of a flurry of immigration-related actions in the first few weeks of Trump’s administration, including orders that restrict birthright citizenship and declare an invasion at the southern border. His Department of Homeland Security has also focused its deportation efforts on sanctuary cities.
Among other provisions, the laws challenged in the new case prohibit officials from complying with federal immigration detainers and providing certain information about noncitizens.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit Wednesday adds to one previously filed by several Chicago-based organizations that support sanctuary cities, which seeks to block the administration’s immigration raids in the Windy City.
The government’s case names as defendants the state of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker (D), Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), the city’s police superintendent and other local officials.
The Hill has reached out to Pritzker and Johnson’s offices for comment.
The complaint cites Pritzker’s comments on CNN late last month, when he said he’s eager to cooperate with federal immigration officials to “get rid” of criminals but questioned the basis for targeting undocumented migrants that are “law-abiding” and have integrated into communities.
“In rejecting congressionally authorized means of enforcing federal immigration law, including detainers and administrative warrants, these provisions constitute unlawful direct regulation of the Federal Government,” the lawsuit states.
