Illinois governor JB Pritzker signs law limiting immigration arrests near courthouses

The law was passed in October as federal authorities carried out a major immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, leading to thousands of arrests and repeated tensions with local communities.

However, supporters said the law was needed to protect residents from being detained while going about daily activities. State Representative Lilian Jiménez said, according to The New York Times, that people “should be able to go to court, take their kid to day care and have access to the university they attend without fear.”

The law also limits what information hospitals, day care centres and colleges in Illinois can share with immigration authorities.

Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration objected to the measure. They argued it could obstruct federal work and create safety risks. Republican State Senator John Curran said during debate that he believed the law “is going to get set aside by the US Supreme Court.”

He also criticised the restrictions around courthouses, saying it pushed arrests into “uncontrolled settings” where risks could be higher.

The Department of Homeland Security said, as quoted by The New York Times, that “nothing in the Constitution prohibits arresting a lawbreaker where you find them” and that making arrests at courthouses saves resources because agents know where the person will be.

Illinois has long limited cooperation between local police and federal immigration officials. Pritzker, who is seen as a possible contender for the 2028 presidential race, said the federal enforcement campaign is against the state’s values. He said the new law was a “deep and comprehensive” response to what communities had experienced under the Trump administration.