A federal judge on Friday dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit aimed at overturning Illinois’ sanctuary laws, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins ruled that the lawsuit, which named Illinois, the city of Chicago, and various local officials, violated the Tenth Amendment by attempting to force state and local agencies to enforce federal immigration policies.
“It would allow the federal government to commandeer states under the guise of intergovernmental immunity—the exact type of direct regulation of states barred by the Tenth Amendment,” Judge Jenkins wrote.
The Trump administration argued that Illinois’ laws—such as restrictions on sharing non-public immigration information and refusal to honor federal detainer requests—were a deliberate attempt to undermine federal immigration enforcement. Officials also claimed these policies enabled dangerous criminals to remain in the country.
Under Illinois law, local officers are prohibited from sharing certain immigration-related information and are barred from complying with ICE detainers. Chicago takes it further, requiring a judicial warrant before responding to any ICE inquiries.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to the ruling.
Chicago has long been a focal point in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The city was among the first targeted by federal agents in the early days of President Trump’s first term.
This case was one of the initial legal battles launched by the Trump administration against jurisdictions deemed “sanctuary cities.” A similar lawsuit was filed against New York City just this week.
