### DOJ Sues Illinois Governor Over New Immigrant Protection Laws The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul concerning recently enacted state laws designed to protect immigrants from federal immigration enforcement actions. These laws, signed by Pritzker, prohibit civil arrests at courthouses and mandate that hospitals, day care centers, and public universities implement procedures to safeguard personal information during immigration operations. The DOJ claims these laws are unconstitutional and jeopardize the safety of federal officers conducting their duties [https://apnews.com/article/doj-lawsuit-immigration-illinois-pritzker-ea26ea18df493dc0c1b466cecf0fbd29]. ### Overview of the Legal Challenge 1. **Background of the Laws**: - The Illinois Bivens Act and the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act were recently signed into law to protect immigrants at sensitive locations such as courthouses, hospitals, and day care centers [https://bci24news.com/2025/12/doj-sues-illinois-governor-attorney-general-over-state-immigration-laws]. 2. **Claims by the DOJ**: - The DOJ argues that these laws infringe upon federal authority and create barriers for federal immigration enforcement, asserting that states cannot dictate the operational scope of federal agents [https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/22/department-of-justice-sues-pritzker-raoul-over-law-barring-federal-immigration-actions-at-courthouses]. 3. **Governor Pritzker's Response**: - Pritzker has acknowledged the potential for legal challenges to these laws, indicating a readiness to defend the state's position in court [https://apnews.com/article/doj-lawsuit-immigration-illinois-pritzker-ea26ea18df493dc0c1b466cecf0fbd29]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Key Provisions of the Laws**: - **Civil Arrest Ban**: Prohibits civil arrests within 1,000 feet of state courthouses [https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/22/department-of-justice-sues-pritzker-raoul-over-law-barring-federal-immigration-actions-at-courthouses]. - **Protection Procedures**: Requires institutions like hospitals and day care centers to establish protocols for handling immigration operations [https://huffpost.com/entry/doj-sues-illinois-governor-over-immigrant-lawsjb-pritzker_n_694ad019e4b080674ceb918c]. - **Federal Concerns**: - The DOJ claims that these laws threaten the safety of federal officers and disrupt the enforcement of immigration laws [https://foxwilmington.com/trump-admin-sues-illinois-gov-pritzker-over-laws-shielding-migrants-from-courthouse-arrests]. ### Conclusion and Implications In summary, the DOJ's lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul highlights a significant legal conflict over state versus federal authority regarding immigration enforcement. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how states can legislate protections for immigrants in the face of federal immigration policies. 1. **Legal Conflict**: The DOJ's challenge underscores the tension between state laws aimed at protecting immigrants and federal immigration enforcement [https://abc7chicago.com/post/doj-sues-illinois-jb-pritzker-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-law-protecting-immigrants-courthouses-hospitals/18308884]. 2. **Potential Outcomes**: Depending on the court's ruling, this case could either affirm state rights to protect immigrants or reinforce federal authority over immigration enforcement [https://www.wqad.com/article/news/politics/illinois-politics/doj-sues-illinois-governor-over-laws-protecting-immigrants-at-courthouses-and-hospitals/616-c1aaf598-4a70-4a13-bbbe-11570354c507]. 3. **Broader Implications**: The legal battle may influence similar laws in other states and shape the national conversation around immigration policy and enforcement [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/u-s-department-of-justice-sues-pritzker-law-immigration-arrests].