Chicago advocacy groups sue Trump administration, ICE over 'retaliatory' deportation raids

Immigrant advocacy groups in Chicago filed a lawsuit Saturday morning against the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over planned deportation raids.

Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Administration, ICE 

What we know:

The lawsuit was filed by Organized Communities Against Deportation (OCAD), the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC), and Raise the Floor Alliance. The groups are represented by Just Futures Law, the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and MK Law.

The plaintiffs allege the raids are "retaliatory in nature" and claim they violate the First Amendment. They have also requested an emergency hearing in federal court.

According to the lawsuit, the advocacy groups argue that Trump’s opposition to sanctuary cities is driving his administration’s plans for raids in Chicago.

What they're saying:

"Immigrant communities who have called Chicago their home for decades are scared," said Antonio Gutierrez from OCAD. "We refuse to live in fear and will fight any attempts to roll back the work we’ve done to keep families together."

"Immigration raids anywhere hurt entire communities," stated Sheila Bedi of the Community Justice Clinic. "In Chicago, the Trump administration isn’t just trying to unleash arbitrary immigrant enforcement. The impending raids are a brazen attempt to stomp out the sanctuary city movement and run roughshod over the First Amendment. Our communities need organizers’ vision and advocacy now more than ever. This lawsuit is about prohibiting the Trump Administration from using law enforcement to decimate a vital social justice movement." 

"The sanctuary movement was born out of the belief that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and that harsh, inhumane immigration enforcement is not the answer to what our city needs," said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel at ICIRR. "The efforts to make Chicago a welcoming place for all people speaks to the values that Chicagoans have held for centuries. We are committed to upholding our welcoming values, fighting back against Trump’s attacks on our movement, and ensuring Chicago remains a safe place for everyone." 

The backstory:

The lawsuit comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement under Trump’s second term. 

ICE has conducted nationwide operations resulting in more than 460 arrests, including in Illinois, primarily targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

On Friday, Chicago Public Schools initially reported that ICE agents visited a Southwest Side elementary school. However, it was later confirmed that U.S. Secret Service agents, not ICE, were investigating a TikTok-related threat.

RELATED: Secret Service mistaken for ICE during visit to Chicago elementary school

Specific details about the ICE arrests in Illinois have not been released.

What's next:

The advocacy groups are awaiting an emergency federal court hearing. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Read the full lawsuit here.

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