SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers have sent Governor JB Pritzker legislation prohibiting federal authorities from making immigration arrests near courthouses. However, even one of the measure’s top sponsors is uncertain about its survival against potential court challenges.
Adopted early Friday, the proposal allows individuals to sue if they believe their constitutional rights have been violated during civil immigration arrests. It imposes civil damages for false imprisonment on individuals arrested while attending court hearings or serving as witnesses.
Senate President Don Harmon, a lead sponsor of the bill, acknowledged the challenges ahead. “It’s not just about the constitutionality of the law, which I think is sound, but the reality that the courts are stacked against us,” he stated, mentioning that the federal government could attempt to remove the case from state to federal courts.
Governor Pritzker supports the initiative and will review it once it reaches his desk, according to spokesperson Matt Hill.
Two weeks prior to this legislation, the top judge in Cook County issued a comparable order prohibiting arrests in courthouses, although federal officials have dismissed this order as legally ineffectual.
The legislation, which was approved mostly along party lines, also obliges hospitals, daycare centers, and educational institutions to implement policies regarding the presence of immigration agents on their premises.
Other states, including California and Connecticut, have already taken measures to limit immigration enforcement actions in courthouses, promoting safe access for individuals regardless of their immigration status. “No one should have to choose between seeking justice and risking their freedom,” expressed co-sponsoring Sen. Celina Villanueva.
