Illinois residents now have the power to take action against federal immigration agents if they think their civil rights were violated. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the law on Tuesday after the state legislature passed it last month. The law lets people sue for damages in those cases. The Trump administration launched a nationwide immigration crackdown earlier this year, with ICE agents conducting raids, and Illinois has been one of the hardest-hit states.
Illinois new law lets people sue federal immigration agents
The bill, HB 1312, adds several rules and safeguards at places like courthouses, hospitals, day-care centres, and university campuses to stop federal immigration officers from aggressively carrying out civil enforcement actions there, according to Fox News. Pritzker signed the bill in Chicago’s Little Village. He was joined by the lawmakers who sponsored it, local officials, and community groups.
While signing the bill, Pritzker, in a press release, said people should not be scared to carry out everyday tasks. He said, “Dropping your kid at day care, going to the doctor, or attending classes should not feel life-changing or risky.” He added, “Illinois, in the face of cruelty and intimidation, has chosen solidarity and support.”
“Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and Gregory Bovino have tried to appeal to our lesser instincts. But the best of us are standing up to the worst of them,” he added.
What the new law changes?
HB 1312 introduces several protections across places where immigration enforcement has wreaked havoc in the past. Under the new law:
- ICE officers cannot make civil arrests in or near courthouses for people attending certain state proceedings.
- Hospitals will have to follow stricter privacy rules. Clear guidelines on how to interact with law enforcement and immigration officers.
- Day-care centres and universities cannot share someone’s immigration status unless required by law. They must set up rules for dealing with federal agents by early 2026.
- People can sue officers if they believe their constitutional rights were violated.
White House responds
The White House has criticised the move. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said that instead of “defending criminal illegal aliens,” Pritzker should focus on fixing crime in Illinois. She said cracking down on crime and deporting dangerous undocumented immigrants should not be a political issue. “Cracking down on crime and deporting dangerous criminal illegal aliens should not be a partisan issue, but Democrats suffering from TDS are trying to make it one, all at the expense of the Americans they are elected to serve,” Jackson said in a statement to Fox News.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said Pritzker is ignoring the US Constitution. “By signing this law, Pritzker violated the Supremacy Clause, his oath he took as Governor to ‘support the Constitution of the United States’, which itself falls under the oaths clause of the Constitution,” McLaughlin told Fox News. “We hope the headlines, social media likes, and fundraising emails he did this for are worth it!”