Illinois Governor Pritzker Signs Bill Protecting Immigrants from ICE

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a bill that prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, from arresting individuals near courthouses. This legislation, which emerged during the recent government shutdown according to Breitbart News, is a response to what Pritzker describes as a campaign of cruelty and intimidation by ICE under the Trump administration.

The law allows Illinois residents to sue immigration agents who allegedly violate their constitutional rights, specifically in or near courthouses. It also mandates that public colleges, hospitals, and child care facilities create policies regarding immigration enforcement and limits their ability to disclose immigration status.

Pritzker emphasized the law as a message against the divisiveness and brutality of federal immigration policies. Critics, including state Republicans, argue that the law could lead to unintended consequences for law enforcement and anticipate potential legal challenges, citing concerns over its constitutionality.

The Department of Homeland Security expressed disapproval, claiming Pritzker's actions violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution. The law comes amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activities in Chicago, specifically during Operation Midway Blitz, which resulted in thousands of arrests, many of whom had no prior criminal records.

Pritzker's administration is also establishing the Illinois Accountability Commission to document federal agent abuses during these operations.