This one will stick. The courts will uphold this. I expect Trump will win. 
Pam Bondi Begins Crackdown on Sanctuary Laws
A Department of Justice lawsuit asserts that sanctuary laws in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois have obstructed federal efforts to enforce immigration policy.
On this score, I expect the courts will side with Trump.
RedState reports There She Goes: Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker Hardest Hit As Pam Bondi Begins Crackdown on Sanctuary Laws
Newly minted Attorney General Pam Bondi has wasted no time, issuing directives that call for “aggressively enforcing criminal laws passed by Congress” and “vigorously defending presidential policies and actions on behalf of the United States against legal challenges.”
And on Thursday, Bondi made another big move, filing a lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois related to their so-called “sanctuary” laws.
“The challenged provisions of Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County law reflect their intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Chicago, is one of the first major cases brought by the new administration’s Justice Department.
Bondi’s move follows a request from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) for four sanctuary city mayors to testify at a hearing in March, with the goal being to assess if new legislation would be needed.
The mayors who were urged to appear before the committee were Chicago’s Brandon Johnson, Boston’s Michelle Wu, New York City’s Eric Adams, and Denver’s Mike Johnston. Comer confirmed on Wednesday that all of them had agreed to appear at the March 5th hearing.
I should note that both Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker were practically daring the Trump administration to come after them, and clearly they’ve taken them up on the insinuated offers.
Trump Administration Sues Illinois
The New York Times reports Trump Administration Sues Illinois Leaders Over Immigration Enforcement
The lawsuit names Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, both Democrats, along with Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department and other local elected officials in the nation’s third-largest city. It is believed to be the new Trump administration’s first legal action against state and local officials to try to make them provide more assistance in federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit asserts that local and state officials’ lack of cooperation with federal enforcement of immigration laws has resulted in “countless criminals being released into Chicago” who should have been subject to deportation.
Illinois and Chicago have laws in place to limit their cooperation with federal agencies’ efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. The Illinois Trust Act, which prevents local law enforcement from holding immigrant prisoners without a court warrant, was signed into law in 2017 by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican.
Toni Preckwinkle, the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, said that the county’s policies “reflect our longstanding values and ensure that local resources are used to promote public safety and community trust. We will review the complaint and respond accordingly.”
Several immigration advocacy groups in Illinois filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month in an effort to block the agency from conducting certain immigration operations in Chicago.
Trump DOJ Slaps Illinois, Chicago with Lawsuit
Fox News reports Trump DOJ Slaps Illinois, Chicago with Lawsuit Over Sanctuary Laws.
The lawsuit filed in Illinois, against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and others, claimed that several state and local laws are “designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.”
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border on day one of his administration as part of a slew of moves to crack down on illegal immigration and increase border security. The lawsuit claims there is a national crisis of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. and presenting “significant threats to national security and public safety.”
“Further exacerbating this national crisis, some of these aliens find safe havens from federal law enforcement detection in so-called Sanctuary Cities where they live and work among innocent Americans, who may later become their crime victims,” it says.
“Upon information and belief, the conduct of officials in Chicago and Illinois minimally enforcing—and oftentimes affirmatively thwarting—federal immigration laws over a period of years has resulted in countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States,” it says.
Pritzker said that “unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follow the law.”
“The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today. Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals,” he said. “Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump Administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court.”
See You in Court
“We look forward to seeing them in court,” said Pritzker.
I asked my constitutional law expert friend about this case, and he responded:
This will be an interesting case. I would place big money on the DOJ winning. It’s just very clear that the feds own immigration policy.
A lot of people hate Trump to the point of blind range. But by the time this gets to the 7th Circuit – the federal Court of Appeals that governs Chicago, the DOJ will win. The 7th Circuit has some very good judges.
Perhaps it’s a little complicated due to the strange decision on Texas, but if it gets to the Supreme Court, I think Justice Roberts will just bury it.
Very Clear
That is what I said when the courts prevented Texas from enforcing immigration policy.
And I took a lot of flack for that call, but that’s what happened.
Now, guess what? Biden is no longer running the border, thank God, so the shoe is on the other foot.
When I make a court case call, it’s not based on what I want to happen, it’s based on what I think will happen.
I am sure Trump will lose on birthright citizenship, and I correctly thought the court would strike down, at least temporarily, Trump’s executive orders on USAID, but this one looks solid.
Related Posts
February 6: Elon Musk and Team DOGE Run Into the Brick Wall of the Court
Well, that was expected, fast, and generally correct.
January 23: A Court Appointee of Reagan Correctly Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
As predicted in this corner, a District Court quickly blocked Trump’s unconstitutional order eliminating birthright citizenship.
January 24: What Were the US Senators Thinking When They Debated the 14th Amendment?
The question is not realistically subject to logical debate, and I can prove it.
But this is different. Biden got to do what he wanted with immigration policy (and he made a damn mess of it to say the least).
Now Trump gets his way.
That said, I still hope for some common sense. Deport them all will be very costly. And if Democrats were smart they would cooperate with Trump and opt for a reasonable deal.
If you want to know what kind of dreamer deal I hope for, please see my November 7, 2024 post The New Home for Hispanics is the Republican Party
The lawsuit filed by the Trump DOJ against Illinois and Chicago over sanctuary laws highlights legal and policy disputes regarding immigration enforcement. While not directly related tohttps://dreisatzrechnerr.de/ proportional calculations can help analyze legal statistics, funding impacts, or policy shifts by comparing relevant data sets.
Mish, in the interest of political fairness, how about photos of Pritzker, Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson at the top of this post, too.?
why bother? this what I would do for any such state=city.
i would take illegals, ship by bus into state and-or capital city. AND THEN informed them
you got caught outside state borders, you would be going home to Salvador!
so those criminals would have incentive to stay inside of such state-city.
Mish-
There are exceptions to the birthright law ( e.g. foreign diplomats whose wife or self give birth) The issue is to expand the exceptions to other individuals not to eliminate birthrights
Lock them up!
Can these cities function normally without the billions in Fed sanctuary dollars? Highly unlikely they can. The second concern is can these politicians get elected without illegal aliens and keep the same number of reps? Also likely a no.
The Fed doesn’t give “sanctuary” funds – they give cities funds for assistance with housing, health care, and transportation.
Large cities often plan projects based on expected Federal funds. In Chicago, for instance, the Red Line expansion project will prob be put on hold.
You had me at “Illinois”.
Book’em, Danno
When was the last time you heard, ‘We are going to Vacation in Chicago”?
We get the country we deserve.
If we don’t like it, we move to St George and I would too.
In my case, Seattle to Boise 25 years ago.
“I came for the Deep Dish Pizza, I stayed for the riots, the shootings and stabbings.”
isn’t a viable tourism campaign slogan…
My last trip to Chicago, was for a Red Sox game. My Wife and I were told to Not wear Red Sox clothing, so we needed the warning.
During the game we witnessed Red Sox Fan in gear have beer tossed onto them and screaming at them etc. Then after the game and heading back to the hotel, we see several fights between fans.
A couple years prior I had went to their annual Music Festival which was a Blast!! Talked about going again right afterwards my, as it was so much fun!
Unfortunately I am not sure personally what has taken place, but that city has an edge and raw nerve about it, I didn’t like at all. I won’t be back anytime soon… Unfortunately. I loved that City back in the day… Both Sides!!
This is criminal. I want to see Pritzker and Johnson arrested and in handcuffs on national TV.
DODGE – I guess they have run into issues but they need to put this stuff on a website where the monies are going that can’t be illegal? And they need to try and find out who requested these pay out this as important as the payment itself. Elected officials need to be held accountable and given a chance to explain their position relative to payments!
Ok Mish, let’s please get back to econ and markets for a bit … Hit the entertainment pause button.
better grab a pepsi, put the Barka-Lounger on low vibrate, and dig in. We got 4 more years of this and you can’t tag out in the 1st round.
Had too many chips last night and got heart burn.
First round? I thought we were still in the stare down before the match begins phase.
It’s simply whack a mole now, as it’s as easy as the game, as they keep popping up for you to knock them back down.
Unlike the game however, which has an end game, or they would run out of moles. These Cities seem to have an endless amount of Crime & Corruption, and that’s just the people that Work for the State.
The people and Citizens that live together are a mess. No rule of law, nothing is watched over, protected, or even looked at as needed in the City. Simply total destruction of what’s left. Sad for a once proud and thriving city (loved boating the locks) that offered so much, but is now in shambles and a shell of its former self.
A guess it’s a snap shot of what’s to come with other Democrat Cities, as they all seem to get to this point eventually, as they run out of other peoples money…
Sounds like you visited Chicago again as an older person, and found it scary.
That’s pretty normal.
James K. Galbraith on His Latest Book, DOGE, Bitcoin & Morehttps://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/james-k-galbraith-on-his-latest-book-doge-bitcoin-more
“This one will stick. The courts will uphold this. I expect Trump will win.”
I sure as hell hope so, Mish. It’s time for Sanctuary Cities to be disbanded & punished financially.
The main question is how long does it take for the legal challenge to play out?
It’s all a dog and pony show. Illinois can be forced to “help” but what’s the point if Trump is simply doing “catch and release” or in this case, “look tough but be wimpy.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-s-ice-frees-hundreds-of-immigrants-under-catch-and-release/ar-AA1yvUAr?ocid=BingNewsVerp
Like I’ve been saying, sound bites, news clips, throw raw meat to rabid MAGA then return to business as usual. Mission accomplished.
But it shouldn’t matter anyway, “everyone is leaving blue states and big cities” has been the mantra here for years from many people. You’d think those cities would be empty by now and it’d be easy to catch all the “illegals” in the city and state.
you answered your own question…
You’d think those cities would be empty by now and it’d be easy to catch all the “illegals” in the city and state.
it would be if the authorities co-operated with federal law enforcement.
Well maybe the governors of Texas and Florida shouldn’t have been busing them there. Who was enabling what? They knew they were sanctuary cities. Checkmate bruh.
NYC mayor Eric Adams tried to use a 200 year old anti pauper law to stop the immigrants from coming. He also sent hundreds back to Texas. Go long bus stocks!
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2024-11-08/judge-says-new-york-cant-use-antiquated-unconstitutional-law-to-block-migrant-buses-from-texas
The state cops who used to be on I-294 have been working from home for 5 years.
– Bondi made another big move, filing a lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois related to their so-called “sanctuary” laws.
Yeah! I see NY, NJ, SF, Etc. To follow. We finally have a “Real AG” working at a “Real DOJ” which we hope brings “Real Charges” against these “Real Criminals, and we start “Locking Them Up” Yeah, oh did I already state that…
The Hamptons are holding emergency meetings because, who will cut my estate’s lawn and clean the pool etc. Meanwhile, Nassau County is deputizing 10 cops as ICE proxies. As Homan has reiterated, if local law works with ICE, there will be less collateral arrest damage. No one really wants to see guys with families and jobs working hard at it booted out. Send the gang bangers to Gitmo and Bukele’s Hotel Salvador, then sort out how to handle others.
Yeah, I’m tired of the “Who Will do this and that” They can start with looking in the mirror, but of course Risk getting triggered seeing a bunch of Tools, and no idea what there for, or what to do with them…
Go to the Family, kids love to help, when amongst others helping too. Borrow neighborhood kids, but PAY Well!! Won’t have a problem, as kids love money too!!
Will the result be that Chicago etc must not impede ICE
OR
Chicago must not only impede ICE but must also provide assistance
OR
Both of the above PLUS criminal sanctions on any Chicago etc official or law enforcement who have impeded the enforcement of that lawful order from the date it became law to date? The court filing states that there have already been multiple cases of impeding so each of those failures should get anyone involved to do a perp walk
It needs to be the third option so any other blue zoo official knows that they can’t play games without serious career destroying penalties and time in a Fed prison
We NEED “Perp Walks” or the Left will NEVER get the message: “Follow The Law” or Go to Prison!!
Once a few dozen of there Friends are incarcerated for breaking The Law, the rest of the hoard will quickly step in line, or not, which will help us Lock More Up, until they do…
The DOJ could bring criminal charges against individuals, but this is more of a warning to individuals. Bondi wants a ruling to take place first to reaffirm continued ICE operations and Federal authority. Charges will be brought if individuals flagrantly obstruct ICE operations.
Wow. We agree on a legal issue. Good call heading to the 7th Circit versus the 9th or DC. The reference Texas case provides SCOTUS a great opportunity to reiterate the point that laws relating to immigration cannot be undone by states. (Although I disagree on principled grounds). Roberts loves to show the DC cocktail circuit that it matters not to him who occupies the Oval Office. This case will provide a golden opportunity.
Regarding the birthright issue…I’m assuming you are aware that the media is gaslighting in this issue. The only other country sitting in the top 30 for GDP that allows this is Canada. When the media says it’s allowed by at least 30 other countries, they dont say that nearly all of them are in Latin and South America, many are considered 3rd world, and not a single EU country allows it.
Neither English common law nor the Congressional debate on birthright support your position. Nor does the history of the issue in the US, up until 100 years ago.
It’s tough for me to believe that you think the provision was intended to grant citizenship to criminal illegals, who (for example) enter the country illegally with fentanyl to sell, commit murder, have a baby, and that infant gets citizenship. But whatever.
That’s not logically sound, nor is it legally sound based on English common law or the Congressional debate.That one will be most interesting to watch play out over a few years.
Have a good weekend.
I look forward to Trump also suing counties AND the state of CA on the same grounds. San Mateo county, CA is a self-defined “Sanctuary” county and the Sheriff of this county, a Latina, recently made statements that her office would continue to refuse to help ICE in every way.
Heraus!
Schnell!
Achtung!