Far-left Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly have passed a bill that provides sanctuary to illegal aliens in courthouses and grants them the right to sue federal agents who arrest them. Governor J. B. Pritzker, who has been critical of federal immigration enforcement and compared federal agents to “Gestapo” stormtroopers, is expected to sign the bill promptly.

### Overview of the Bill

The legislation, surprisingly attached as an amendment to a bill recognizing POW-MIA Day, introduces several provisions aimed at limiting immigration enforcement:

– **Sanctuary in Courthouses:** Civil immigration arrests are barred inside state courthouses and within a 1,000-foot buffer zone surrounding these buildings. While there has long been a de facto understanding that courthouses were off-limits for immigration enforcement, arrests in these areas have increased over the past year.

– **Penalties for Violations:** Anyone who violates the act would face statutory damages of $10,000.

– **Right to Sue Federal Agents:** Illinois residents are granted the ability to sue immigration agents for constitutional rights violations. Plaintiffs can seek punitive damages, which may be increased if the agents are wearing masks, concealing their identity, failing to wear body cameras, or using vehicles with non-Illinois or obscured license plates.

The bill’s supporters argue that these measures protect community members, but critics warn that requiring agents to reveal their identities could put their lives and families at risk, especially since drug cartels and criminal gangs have placed bounties on federal agents.

### Supporters’ Perspective

Among the bill’s advocates is Hoan Huynh, a Democratic immigrant legislator from Vietnam. He condemned ICE’s tactics, calling them “un-American” and likening federal immigration agents to “gun-toting mercenaries” who “often without agency badges roam our communities and abduct our neighbors.” Huynh urged lawmakers to support the bill on the grounds of due process and respect for the Constitution.

### Opposition and Concerns

The bill is a direct reaction to Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement initiative responsible for approximately 3,000 arrests in Illinois, according to CBS News. During this operation, federal agents have faced violent attacks from rioters, including rock-throwing and the use of commercial-grade fireworks.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sharply criticized the legislation, stating on X (formerly Twitter):

> “The Illinois General Assembly just passed the ridiculous HB 1312, a misguided attempt to obstruct law and order. This bill undermines community safety by providing sanctuary to criminals at civic centers and other locations statewide. Our brave law enforcement officers will not be slowed down by obstructionist legislation. The deportations will continue.”

Additionally, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association have expressed their opposition, calling the bill detrimental to local law enforcement efforts.

GOP lawmakers and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon have acknowledged that the bill will likely face legal challenges from the federal government under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Harmon stated:

> “This law will be challenged — we know that it will. But it doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do.”

### Legal Context and Earlier Lawsuit

The bill’s passage follows a pattern of Illinois and Chicago enacting sanctuary policies that the federal government has attempted to challenge in court. However, in July, a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department to overturn Illinois and Chicago sanctuary statutes was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Lindsay Carole Jenkins, a Biden appointee. In her ruling, Judge Jenkins wrote:

> “The individual defendants are dismissed because the United States lacks standing to sue them with respect to the Sanctuary Policies. The Federal Government may not compel the States to enact or administer a federal regulatory program. While Congress has many enumerated powers, and may even overtake state law, it may not wield States as federal tools.”

This ruling raises questions about the potential success of any forthcoming legal challenges to the new law.

### Governor Pritzker’s Admission and Next Steps

Governor Pritzker has unofficially acknowledged that Illinois is harboring illegal-alien criminals by stating that 60 percent of the illegal aliens arrested this year in the state have no criminal convictions, implying that the remaining 40 percent—about 1,200 individuals—do have criminal records.

With the bill poised for his signature, Illinois moves further into sanctuary policy territory, setting the stage for a federal-state showdown over immigration enforcement and safety.

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*This article reflects ongoing developments in state and federal immigration policy and law enforcement in Illinois.*
https://thenewamerican.com/us/immigration/illinois-law-would-shield-illegals-from-arrest-allow-them-to-sue-agents-who-arrest-them/