The Justice Department is suing Illinois and the city of Chicago to block local and state efforts to impede the Trump administration’s emigration enforcement efforts. This is the first suit that follows the Justice Department’s vow to investigate state and local officials that interfere with federal immigration enforcement efforts. The Justice Department argues multiple state and local laws are designed to hamper federal agents.

One such law is Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” which bars police from arresting people based on immigration status and limits what information the city can share with federal authorities. The Justice Department argues laws like these violate the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which holds federal law as superseding local and state laws. The Justice Department added the impairment of federal officials presents a serious public safety concern.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the city’s law department is reviewing the case. Representatives of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated the Federal Government’s actions undermine their own local law enforcement efforts. This marks the first time the Justice Department uses legal action against state and local officials refusing to cooperate with the policies pushed through President Trump’s executive orders.

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