Newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi wasted no time in making her mark, filing a lawsuit against Illinois and Chicago on Thursday, challenging the state’s and city’s sanctuary policies. The legal action, one of her first as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, aims to enforce federal immigration law and curb what she described as the obstruction of federal immigration enforcement.
“I will restore integrity to the Justice Department, and I will fight violent crime throughout this country and throughout this world and make America safe again,” Bondi said during her inauguration speech.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, specifically targets the Illinois Trust Act, the Way Forward Act, and policies within the city of Chicago and Cook County that Bondi claims are intentionally obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The suit asserts that these local laws, which limit cooperation with federal immigration officials, are in direct violation of federal law and impede the federal government’s ability to carry out its constitutional duties.
By refusing to honor federal immigration detainers and warrants authorized by Congress, Bondi’s complaint argues Illinois and Chicago are unlawfully preventing federal immigration officials from fulfilling their responsibilities. The Justice Department’s complaint states that the actions of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson—sued in their official capacities—are hindering federal law enforcement and endangering public safety.
“The conduct of officials in Chicago and Illinois minimally enforcing—and oftentimes affirmatively thwarting—federal immigration laws over a period of years has resulted in countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States,” the lawsuit reads.
The Illinois Trust Act, which was adopted in 2017, prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining individuals based solely on their immigration status or federal immigration detainers. It effectively shields unauthorized immigrants from detention or arrest, making it more difficult for federal immigration authorities like ICE to carry out their duties. The Way Forward Act similarly requires law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports to the Illinois Attorney General’s office detailing their compliance with the Trust Act, further complicating cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.
In early 2017, during the early days of the first Trump administration, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memo warning sanctuary cities that they could face legal consequences for undermining federal immigration enforcement.
The timing of the lawsuit is also notable in the context of President Trump’s recent signing of the Laken Riley Act. The new law mandates that individuals arrested, charged, or convicted of certain crimes, such as theft or violent offenses, be detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. The Justice Department’s lawsuit references the Laken Riley Act as a key piece of legislation supporting its push for stronger enforcement of immigration laws.
If successful, the lawsuit could have wide-reaching implications for sanctuary cities across the country. It would set a legal precedent for holding local and state governments accountable for their role in obstructing federal immigration enforcement.
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just arrest the mayor, the governor and keep them in jail until they persuade their cronies to do the right thing. or just arrest the entire bunch of communist democrats. fill their positions with republicans. see how they like that.