Chicago Sanctuary City Groups Sue Trump Over Immigration Raids

Chicago organizations that advocate for the national sanctuary city movement sued the federal government over its decision to conduct mass deportation raids in the city, saying that the policy violates their First Amendment rights.

After President Donald Trump (R) took office Jan. 20, he signed an executive order on immigration that sparked the raids to ensure that all immigrants in the country are here legally.

According to a petition filed Jan. 26 in the US District Court of the Northern District of Illinois by Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Organized Communities Against Deportations, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Inc., and Raise the Floor Alliance, sanctuary city policies are “entirely lawful” and provide the communities with economic benefits.

The policies, such as teaching immigrants English and helping the immigration communities work with local law enforcement, show a respect for human dignity and the common good, the petition says.

But the Trump Administration has made Chicago “ground zero” for its new immigration enforcement policy and it intends to “make an example” of the city “because of animus” towards the sanctuary city movement and the plaintiffs, they say.

The plaintiffs exist to advocate for and to maintain Chicago as a sanctuary city, but the administration’s threats and crack down on Chicago has chilled their speech in violation of the First Amendment, they say.

The administration’s raids, which are intended to end the sanctuary city movement, are also arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, the petition says.

The plaintiffs seek a declaration that the administration’s actions violate their First Amendment rights, an injunction, and an order setting aside the administration’s policy to conduct the raids.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

MK Law LLC, Roderick Macarthur Justice Center, and the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law represent the plaintiffs.

The case is Organized Communities Against Deportation v. Trump, N.D. Ill., No. 1:25-cv-00868, complaint filed 1/26/25.