What's at stake if we lose sanctuary city laws

Axios

03-03-2025

Dropping sanctuary rules in Chicago would trigger big changes, according to both supporters and opponents.
Why it matters: The city and state are facing intense scrutiny from the Trump administration and a federal lawsuit for our local policies.
The issue will be thrust into a national spotlight Wednesday when Mayor Brandon Johnson defends the policies before the U.S. House oversight committee, along with mayors from Denver, Boston and New York.
Defining terms: Chicago's Welcoming City ordinance and Illinois' TRUST Act generally:
Prohibit local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration law, except when federal agents present a criminal warrant issued by a judge.
Bar police from arresting or holding anybody based on immigration status, an ICE warrant or a hold request.
Ensure that everyone, regardless of immigration status, can access city services including education, medical care and police protections.
These laws don't prohibit local law enforcement from arresting anyone suspected of violating state or local laws.
Sanctuary city supporters say removing protections would hurt the city, not just the individuals involved, because it would discourage local undocumented people from reporting crime and cooperating with police; going to school, work and doctors appointments; supporting businesses; and getting things like car insurance.
Yes, but: It's difficult to gauge how much school attendance has already been affected by recent threats.
A Chicago Public Schools official told Axios by phone the district doesn't have weekly and daily attendance information and the CPS FOIA officer also denied Axios' open records request for the data.
What they're saying: We'd likely see "emboldened ICE operations and explicit profiling, as well as increasing mistrust between immigrant communities and local police," Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights tells Axios.
"It would feed into an atmosphere of fear rather than being welcoming. That said, local police could still choose not to prioritize ICE cooperation, but if the feds require police to cooperate, local police won't have a choice."
Meanwhile, Ald. Ray Lopez wants to preserve the Welcoming City ordinance but with one amendment that allows the CPD to assist ICE in apprehending "individuals who choose to commit criminal acts," Lopez tells Axios.
"I think it would reduce crime, help communities feel safer, and take the bullseye off the undocumented community, as the Trump administration continues to go after dangerous non-citizens," he says.
"There's 100% focus on cities like Chicago because we refuse to do this, and that's putting everyone in a state of panic."
Reality check: The City Council failed to pass a measure that would have made that change earlier this year.
The other side: Republican Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison wants sanctuary policies dropped entirely.
It "would benefit public safety and encourage more individuals here illegally to return to their home countries and follow the legal process for citizenship," he tells Axios.
"I do not believe it would discourage victims from speaking with law enforcement, as protections exist to ensure victims and witnesses can safely report crimes. Additionally, reducing school overcrowding and the financial strain on taxpayers — who are already supporting critical services for our own citizens — is not a bad thing."
What we're watching: How New York City's partial cooperation with the Trump administration on deportation issues affects Mayor Eric Adams' treatment at this week's hearings and funding to the city.