ICE Tactics Near Chicago Courthouses Persist Despite State Law, Advocates Say

Fear has resurfaced within Chicago's immigrant community following allegations that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are conducting arrests in the vicinity of state courthouses. This comes despite Illinois enacting a law intended to prevent such civil immigration detentions.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) asserts that these operations persist, with agents reportedly apprehending individuals as they arrive for their court hearings. Judith Palma, an ICIRR spokesperson, told Univision that the organization has documented an increase in these interventions across various Chicago-area courts. She noted that arrests often occur in the early morning hours when fewer people are present, making it harder to spot immigration agents.

Palma also observed a shift in tactics, with fewer large-scale deployments of officers and more targeted actions against specific individuals. These allegations gain significance given Illinois' HB 1312 law, signed in December 2025, which prohibits civil immigration arrests within and around state courthouses. The law aims to ensure that victims, witnesses, and anyone summoned by the court can attend proceedings without fear of immigration enforcement.

However, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit challenging the state's authority to restrict federal immigration enforcement powers. Amidst this ongoing legal battle, immigrant advocacy groups maintain that the arrests have not ceased. Officials in Cook County and community organizations report that immigration agents have continued enforcement activities at various judicial buildings in recent months, despite the state legislation.