Justice Department Sues Illinois Over Immigrant Protection Laws

The United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to nullify a new state law restricting immigration enforcement. The lawsuit, part of a broader initiative by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, argues that the law violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and jeopardizes the safety of federal officers by exposing them to harassment and ruinous liability.

Signed by Governor JB Pritzker in December 2025, the law bans civil immigration arrests within or near state courthouses, specifically within a 1,000-foot buffer zone. It allows individuals unlawfully arrested during court proceedings to seek $10,000 in statutory damages. Additionally, the legislation requires public universities, daycare centers, and hospitals to implement procedures for handling federal raids and restricts them from sharing personal information with agents.

Illinois officials enacted these measures following Operation Midway Blitz, a federal deportation campaign in the Chicago area that resulted in over 4,500 arrests. Governor Pritzker's office defended the law as a necessary step to protect constitutional rights, asserting that federal agents have harassed law-abiding citizens and minority groups at essential institutions. The case is assigned to Judge David W. Dugan, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul must respond by January 13.