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Illinois Governor Signs Law Barring Federal Immigration Arrests Near Courthouses, Hospitals, Colleges and Day-Care Centers

CNN
03:20 AM, 12/10/2025
Illinois Governor Signs Law Barring Federal Immigration Arrests Near Courthouses, Hospitals, Colleges and Day-Care Centers

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that prevents federal immigration enforcement near courthouses, hospitals, college campuses and day‑care centers; the measure takes effect immediately. Enacted in response to a September crackdown in the Chicago area, the law creates legal remedies for rights violations, including $10,000 in damages for someone unlawfully arrested while trying to attend a court proceeding. Supporters say the law protects access to essential services and reinforces constitutional protections.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed a law that bars federal officials from carrying out immigration-enforcement actions near courthouses, inside hospitals, on college campuses or at day-care facilities. The measure takes effect immediately.

What the Law Does

The law was enacted in response to a wave of immigration arrests in the Chicago area last fall. It prohibits federal immigration agents from conducting enforcement actions in and around sensitive public sites where people seek medical care, education or legal access.

Legal Remedies and Damages

The statute also creates a private right of action for people whose constitutional rights are violated during enforcement actions. It provides for monetary damages, including $10,000 in statutory damages for someone unlawfully arrested while attempting to attend a court proceeding, and other legal remedies where rights were infringed.

“Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending your classes should not be a life‑altering task,” Pritzker said as he signed the bill at an event in a largely Latino neighborhood in Chicago.

The law was passed amid criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in the region; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s so‑called "Operation Midway Blitz" led to more than 3,000 arrests in the area. Supporters say the new state statute aims to protect access to essential services and to ensure that people are not deterred from seeking medical care, education or legal proceedings.

The bill takes effect immediately, and state officials say it will help safeguard constitutional protections while establishing clear remedies for those harmed by improper enforcement actions.

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