Trump administration sues Illinois and Chicago for obstructing deportation of migrants
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
On Thursday, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. The US president's administration claims that their sanctuary city policies hinder federal authorities from enforcing immigration laws, specifically regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants, according to NBC News.
The federal lawsuit is the first filed by President Donald Trump's Department of Justice against states or municipalities with sanctuary city policies.
In a 22-page document, submitted the day after US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued her first directive on granting asylum, it is argued that the sanctuary policies implemented by the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and Cook County obstruct the federal government from enforcing immigration laws.
According to NBC, this lawsuit is the latest tool used by the Trump administration as it accelerates its mass deportation of illegal immigrants. It may also raise questions about the future enforcement of a directive issued shortly after the inauguration when the Trump White House instructed the Department of Justice to investigate actions by state or local officials who resist implementing federal immigration laws.
NBC also noted that sanctuary cities or states are not official terms. These designations refer to cities, counties, or municipalities that have adopted laws explicitly or implicitly prohibiting or limiting cooperation between local officials and federal immigration authorities.
