Federal Judge Dismisses Trump DOJ Sanctuary Lawsuit Against Illinois, Chicago

A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit against Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County challenging their sanctuary city policies, ruling that the administration lacks standing to invalidate these local laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins found that the sanctuary policies do not interfere with Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations or contractual rights of private individuals working with ICE. The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing the Justice Department to amend its complaint, but warned that failure to do so by the deadline would make the dismissal final. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and civil rights groups praised the ruling, emphasizing that local policies prioritize public safety and welfare over federal immigration enforcement. The judge also highlighted constitutional protections that reserve powers not explicitly granted to the federal government to the states, marking a significant legal setback for the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on sanctuary jurisdictions. This case is part of a broader pattern of lawsuits by the administration against sanctuary cities, with a similar suit recently filed against New York City.