Illinois lawmakers approve ban on immigration arrests near courthouses
Source: AP
Updated 4:01 PM EDT, October 31, 2025
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers have sent Gov. JB Pritzker legislation prohibiting federal authorities from making immigration arrests near courthouses, but even one of the measure’s top sponsors questions whether it can survive a court challenge.
The proposal adopted early Friday also allows lawsuits when people believe their constitutional rights have been violated during civil immigration arrests.
The legislation imposes civil damages for false imprisonment when someone attending a court hearing or appearing as a party or witness to a legal proceeding is arrested. Proponents say courts must be accessible to everyone to pursue remedies to violations of their rights. Democratic Senate President Don Harmon, a lead sponsor, acknowledged the measure will face a court challenge.
“It’s not just about the constitutionality of the law, which I think is sound, but it’s the reality that the courts are stacked against us,” Harmon said. “The federal government can try to remove it from state courts to federal courts. They can try to substitute the government itself for the individual defendants, but that’s not a reason not to try.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-arrests-courthouses-chicago-ice-2d08fdfb296be5489c18108d19ee2190
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