The Trump Administration Is Picking a Fight with Illinois Over Immigration

State and local officials say they’re prepared to defend their policies that limit police cooperation with immigration enforcement.

JB Pritzker AP-24234190457600

Sipa USA/Sipa USA via AP

The Trump administration on Thursday sued the state of Illinois as well as a slew of Chicago-area officials over their sanctuary laws. Chicago officials say it’s just another scare tactic.

“Trump’s targeting Chicago and the state of Illinois now because of the fact that obviously, from a political standpoint, he is trying to send a message to, quote, unquote, blue cities, blue states, that they’re in charge and that they’re going to move forward with their agenda,” Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas told NOTUS. “We’ve seen this play already.”

The suit, brought by the Justice Department, alleges that the state of Illinois, city of Chicago, the Chicago police superintendent, Cook County and the Cook County sheriff have laws that impede federal immigration officers from performing their duties. The laws in question “reflect their intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law,” the suit alleges.