President Trump’s Justice Division sued the state of Illinois, the town of Chicago and native officers Thursday over legal guidelines making a so-called “sanctuary city.”
Accusing the officers of impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts, the Justice Division requested a choose to declare the state and native measures unconstitutional due to the federal authorities’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 docket in Chicago, is among the first main instances introduced by the brand new administration’s Justice Division. It comes after the Senate Wednesday confirmed Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi, who on her first day issued a memo limiting sanctuary cities from accessing Justice Division funds.
It’s a part of a flurry of immigration-related actions within the first few weeks of Trump’s administration, together with orders that prohibit birthright citizenship and declare an invasion on the southern border. His Division of Homeland Safety has additionally centered its deportation efforts on sanctuary cities.
Amongst different provisions, the legal guidelines challenged within the new case prohibit officers from complying with federal immigration detainers and offering sure details about noncitizens.
The Justice Division’s lawsuit Wednesday provides to 1 beforehand filed by a number of Chicago-based organizations that assist sanctuary cities, which seeks to dam the administration’s immigration raids within the Windy Metropolis.
The federal government’s case names as defendants the state of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker (D), Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), the town’s police superintendent and different native officers.
The Hill has reached out to Pritzker and Johnson’s workplaces for remark.
The grievance cites Pritzker’s feedback on CNN late final month, when he mentioned he’s desperate to cooperate with federal immigration officers to “get rid” of criminals however questioned the premise for focusing on undocumented migrants which might be “law-abiding” and have built-in 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.
