On Sunday, January 26, 2025, the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Organized Communities Against Deportations, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Inc., and Raise the Floor Alliance filed a petition in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois. The advocacy groups argue sanctuary city policies like those implemented in Chicago are “entirely lawful” and generate positive economic outcomes.
The petition was submitted less than seven days after Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States. Shortly after being sworn into office, he signed a series of executive orders pertaining to immigration in the United States and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since then, ICE agents have executed raids in major cities such as Newark, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. Most notably, ICE agents reportedly settled into Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding areas throughout the weekend. According to ICE, nearly 1,000 individuals were arrested, and a report from The Washington Post indicates ICE could institute daily arrest quotas of up to 1,500 moving forward.
The petition seeks to halt the execution of ICE raids and mass arrests in Chicago, Illinois. The groups argue the administration’s actions violate their First Amendment rights. Thus far, the White House has not issued a statement regarding the petition.
