A federal judge has just thrown out a Trump administration lawsuit aimed at stopping sanctuary city policies in Illinois and Chicago—delivering a win for the open-borders left and a loss for law-abiding American citizens.
The case, brought by the Department of Justice, argued that Chicago, Cook County, and the state of Illinois were willfully obstructing federal immigration enforcement by refusing to cooperate with ICE. It was a bold attempt by President Trump to hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable—and put American safety first.
But on Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins, a Biden appointee, dismissed the case.
Judge Rules in Favor of Sanctuary Policies
In her ruling, Judge Jenkins claimed that the federal government “lacked standing” to challenge state-level sanctuary policies, citing the Tenth Amendment—a constitutional provision often used to defend state sovereignty.
Judge Jenkins wrote that the sanctuary policies represent the defendants’ choice to refrain from helping enforce federal civil immigration laws—an action she said is safeguarded by the Tenth Amendment.
She added that siding with the Trump administration would essentially allow the federal government to “commandeer” states—something explicitly barred by the Constitution.
Trump Administration Fires Back: Americans Deserve Protection
Despite the ruling, the White House made it clear this battle isn’t over.
“The government — at all levels — has a duty to protect American citizens from harm,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “Sanctuary cities like Chicago interfere with federal immigration enforcement at the expense of the safety and security of American citizens. We look forward to ultimate vindication on the issue.”
Pam Bondi’s Justice Department Makes Its Move
The lawsuit, filed just one day after Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a new directive on sanctuary jurisdictions, accused Illinois and its leaders of deliberately obstructing immigration law.
Governor J.B. Pritzker, Cook County, and the City of Chicago were all named in the suit—though Jenkins ultimately dismissed Pritzker from the case.
According to the DOJ filing, the challenged laws represent a “deliberate effort to block cooperation” between local and federal law enforcement—creating dangerous gaps in national security.
More Legal Battles Ahead: Trump Won’t Back Down
This was the first lawsuit of its kind under President Trump, but it won’t be the last. Similar suits have already been filed against Los Angeles and New York City—two more far-left jurisdictions that shield illegal immigrants from deportation.
President Trump’s approach to illegal immigration has been clear: close the loopholes, enforce the law, and put Americans first. His administration has appealed nearly every immigration-related loss in court—and sources say this ruling will be no exception.
Sanctuary Cities vs. Law and Order
At the heart of the fight is a simple question: Should local politicians be allowed to block ICE from doing its job?
Conservatives argue that sanctuary policies invite chaos, protect criminals, and make life more dangerous for law-abiding Americans. Liberals, meanwhile, continue to put politics before public safety—choosing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens.
President Trump’s team is gearing up for the next round in court. And for millions of Americans who believe in secure borders and the rule of law, that fight can’t come soon enough.