Illinois state Democrats are working to oppose the president’s deportation policies.
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said a new bill he signed on Tuesday is intended to limit the “depravity” of the Trump administration, but government officials say it’s unconstitutional.
The law restricts federal immigration enforcement outside of state courthouses and allows residents to sue federal immigration agents if they believe their civil rights have been violated. It also restricts similar operations near hospitals, university campuses, and day-care centers.
“Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending classes should not be a life-altering task,” Pritzker said about the law.
School officials are prohibited under the new law from reporting the immigration status of a student, employee, or another person associated with the student or employee.
Pritzker wrote in a post on social media: “Today, I’ve signed into law legislation that expands legal protections for the people of Illinois.”
The Department of Homeland Security responded by accusing Pritzker of acting unconstitutionally against federal authority.
“Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution, still clearly states: ‘This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof … shall be the supreme Law of the Land,’” reads a DHS statement. The department added that Pritzker violated the Supremacy Clause by signing the law.
A recent DHS report indicated that as many as 1,768 criminal non-citizens—illegal immigrants and others—were released in Illinois despite ICE detainers placed on them. Among those released were at least five homicide convictions, 141 assault convictions, and 10 sexual offense convictions.
Pritzker is considered by some to be a potential candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
