CHICAGO (MetaWorld Media) — The Department of Justice has instigated a lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in response to a recent set of state laws aimed at reinforcing protections for immigrants at courthouses, hospitals, and educational institutions.
Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker signed legislation that prohibits civil arrests at and around courthouses throughout Illinois. This law also mandates that hospitals and day care centers establish protocols to address civil immigration operations and ensure the privacy of personal information.
These laws have immediate effect and provide a legal pathway for individuals whose rights are violated during federal enforcement actions, allowing them to claim up to $10,000 in damages if unlawfully arrested while attending court proceedings.
Advocates for immigrant rights have hailed this legislation, arguing that it diminishes the fear among immigrants regarding detention, encouraging them to seek necessary services without apprehension.
Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, characterized the laws as a courageous effort against federal policies. Our collective resistance to ICE and CBP's violent attacks on our communities goes beyond community-led rapid response — it includes legislative solutions as well, he remarked when the bills were signed into law.
In contrast, the Department of Justice claims that the new laws undermine federal law enforcement, asserting that they threaten the safety of federal officers. This lawsuit forms part of a broader strategy by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge state and local laws that the DOJ perceives as obstructing immigration enforcement operations.
Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have yet to respond to the lawsuit officially. They acknowledged the possibility of legal challenges to the legislation, with Pritzker expressing confidence in the necessity and positivity of the new laws.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently carried out Operation Midway Blitz, leading to the arrest of over 4,000 individuals, 85% of whom reportedly did not have significant criminal backgrounds.
