Latest news with #IllinoisTrustAct
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Back from Capitol Hill, mayor talks Congressional questioning, CTU contract, Dept. of Ed.
CHICAGO (WGN) — Fresh off his return to the city from the hot seat on Capitol Hill, Mayor Brandon Johnson paid a visit Thursday to Pearl's Place, a Bronzeville staple where political and business leaders regularly dine, and opened up about the questioning he faced, the ongoing teachers' contract negotiations and President Trump's vow to abolish the Department of Education. Johnson became the first mayor since Richard M. Daley to testify before Congress when he, along with the mayors from New York, Boston and Denver, answered questions about sanctuary status in their respective cities on Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Mayor Brandon Johnson defends Chicago's sanctuary city status at congressional hearing on Capitol Hill 'Yesterday was an opportunity for the City of Chicago for our story to be told, and be told in a way I believe the rest of the nation can appreciate,' Johnson told WGN. During a Republican-led, six-hour hearing, Johnson and the other mayors were accused of protecting criminals and not following the Trump administration's anti-immigration efforts. In Chicago, city ordinance and state law prevent police officers from questioning people about their immigration status and limits their ability to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'The Welcoming City policy has been around for 40 years. We comply as a city with all laws, local, state and federal,' Johnson said. 'We know that the Illinois Trust Act that had bipartisan support, that Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law, and that it also compliments our efforts to ensure that local law enforcement focuses on local issues.' Johnson said he does not know the number of people that ICE agents have arrested in Chicago. Among the local issues outside of law enforcement is the nearly year-long teachers' contract negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools. On Wednesday, CTU leaders shared petitions signed by thousands of CPS educators with the Chicago Board of Education. They're demanding smaller class sizes, a better teacher evaluation process, more money for veteran educators, extra planning time for teachers, and additional enrichment time for students. If a deal isn't met, teachers could strike as soon as this month. To help pay for a potential contract, the Board of Education will consider increasing the CPS budget. 'This budget amendment is a step in the right direction because it is the responsibility of our public school board to ensure that we are investing in the hopes and aspirations of our families in our public schools,' Johnson said. Regarding the US Department of Education, the mayor said Chicago would face major consequences if President Trump's proposal to abolish the agency is approved by Congress. 'The impact that any loss of resources from the federal government would have on our public school system would be significant,' he said. 'We think about special education, we think about our bilingual education. Those resources are critical in the overall direction of our schools.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Chicago has managed the migrant influx: A deep dive before Johnson's congressional hearing
The Brief Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will testify before Congress about the city's sanctuary policies, following a request from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Since August 2022, over 51,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago, leading to significant financial expenditures, with the city spending $638.7 million on migrant aid. Chicago has faced controversies regarding the establishment of migrant shelters in various neighborhoods, including the West Town and Woodlawn areas. CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will testify before Congress this week about the city's status as a sanctuary city. The appearance follows a formal request from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which sent a letter to City Hall last month asking Johnson to participate in a public hearing on Capitol Hill. The letter raised concerns about the impact of sanctuary policies in Chicago, as well as in New York, Boston and Denver. RELATED:Why is Brandon Johnson testifying before Congress? Johnson has said he would defend the people of Chicago and comply with the 2017 Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement. Ahead of Johnson's testimony, here's a detailed look at migrant arrivals and key developments since 2022. By the numbers Since Aug. 31, 2022, over 51,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago from the southern border. From August 2022 to December 2024, the city reported 946 buses arriving with asylum seekers. Of these, 602 buses arrived at the city's designated "Landing Zone," while 344 buses and two planes brought additional arrivals since November 2024. As of December 2024: Total Individuals Seeking Asylum Arriving via Texas Buses & Airplane: 51,648 Total Individuals Seeking Asylum Arriving via Airplane Since June 2023: 5,209 Total Bus Arrivals in Chicagoland Area Since 8/31/2022: 946 Total Individuals Resettled: 17,183 Total Individuals Reunited with Sponsors: 7,689 Total Shelter Census: 2,487 Total Awaiting Placement: 0 Money Spent Chicago has allocated significant funds to support migrants arriving in the city since August 2022. As of February, Chicago has spent $638.7 million on migrant aid. Funding sources include: American Rescue Plan Act: $94 million City Corporate Fund: $268,163,828 Cook County Asylum Seeker Grant: $36,620,606 Federal Health Grant: $1,568,730 FEMA Asylum Seeker Grants: $87,522,646 State Asylum Seeker Grants: $149,862,603 City officials and residents have debated the sustainability of such spending and its impact on local communities. To address ongoing needs, the city launched the "One System Initiative" in December 2024, unifying migrant and homeless shelters into a single support network. The transition included adding 3,800 beds to the Department of Family and Support Services' current capacity and eliminating 30-day shelter extensions. Mayor Johnson described this initiative as a "cost-effective, equitable, and strategic approach" to addressing homelessness while responding to the decline in new migrant arrivals. PREVIOUS STORY: Migrants in Chicago: State funds hotel stays for hundreds of asylum seekers amid 'unprecedented' influx The city said a five-year plan was being created to enhance services for unhoused residents. Funding has also been a contentious issue in Chicago, with many local groups questioning how the city could suddenly allocate millions of dollars for new arrivals while long-standing community needs go unmet. In 2024, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced plans to spend an additional $182 million in state funds to address the growing number of migrants in Chicago and Cook County. Republican lawmakers pushed back, arguing that the state should prioritize its citizens over new arrivals. Instead, Republicans called for increased funding for health care, law enforcement, and homeownership programs for residents. RELATED: Chicago aldermen push for more funding amid reports of migrants sleeping inside police stations Chicago City Council approves $51M for migrant aid Chicago mayor on migrant crisis: 'Entire country is now at stake' without significant assistance from Biden Chicago's efforts to accommodate an influx of migrants sparked various controversies over the years, particularly concerning the establishment of shelters in different neighborhoods. The backstory In West Town, a building near Western and Ohio was repurposed to house migrant families in November 2023. Despite legal challenges from local residents aiming to halt the move-in, a judge denied the request for a temporary restraining order. Migrant families began relocating to the facility, which had undergone renovations to add more bathroom facilities. Prior to this, many of the migrants had been living in tents or police station lobbies. READ MORE HERE The backstory The decision to convert the former Wadsworth Elementary School in Woodlawn into a migrant shelter was met with significant opposition. Residents and local leaders expressed frustration over the lack of community consultation. Alderman Jeanette Taylor highlighted that the city proceeded without engaging the community, leading to protests and activists camping outside the facility. Concerns centered around resource allocation and the potential impact on the neighborhood. The Wadsworth building once had more than 500 students in attendance when it was active. In February 2023, city officials said 250 adult migrants moved in. READ MORE HERE The backstory Plans to erect a migrant tent shelter in Brighton Park led to heated community meetings. Residents voiced strong objections, feeling excluded from the decision-making process. Tensions escalated to the point where Alderman Julia Ramirez and her aide were physically attacked during a protest against the shelter. In December 2023, Governor J.B. Pritzker halted construction after environmental reviews revealed significant contamination, including elevated levels of mercury and arsenic in the soil. PREVIOUS STORY: Pressure mounts on Chicago mayor as costs for failed Brighton Park migrant site reach nearly $1M Despite initial assurances from city officials that remediation efforts had rendered the site safe for temporary residential use, the state decided to discontinue plans for the shelter due to these environmental concerns. Following the cancelation, several City Council members called for the resignation of officials involved in the failed project, criticizing the lack of transparency and collaboration with the community. READ MORE HERE What we know In January 2024, Chicago officials announced that they were 'pausing' efforts to open additional shelters and relying on the state to create more beds. To stay within its 'New Arrivals Mission' budget, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the time that the city was turning its focus to "outmigration and resettlement services." As migrants found more permanent housing, officials said space was becoming available in the city's 28 shelters. PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Chicago 'pauses' new migrant shelters The backstory A migrant shelter in the Pilsen neighborhood was linked to the majority of measles cases in an outbreak that began in early March 2024. These cases marked the first reported instances of measles in Chicago since 2019. About half of the cases involved children under 5 years old. By April 2024, the City of Chicago reported a significant decline in measles cases following the implementation of a vaccination campaign aimed at individuals lacking protection. Measles, characterized by symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash, is highly contagious. The rash typically appears three to five days after the onset of symptoms, and individuals exposed to measles may remain asymptomatic for one to two weeks. The backstory In December 2023, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced stricter penalties for bus companies that failed to comply with the city's guidelines when transporting migrants from the southern border. The proposed rule aimed to impose penalties on private bus operators who did not comply with specified rules regarding the location and timing of migrant drop-offs. Violations of the established rules could result in fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. MORE:Chicago looks to implement stricter rules for migrant bus operators In response, some bus operators began bypassing Chicago, opting to drop off passengers in suburban areas instead. Elburn: In December 2023, a bus carrying 38 migrants made an unannounced stop in Elburn. The village board responded by approving an ordinance to restrict "unscheduled intercity buses." Lockport: Migrants were dropped off at a Metra station without prior notice in December 2023. Local police coordinated with the Office of Emergency Management and Communications to transport the migrants to Chicago. Fox River Grove: A bus from Texas left 38 migrants at a Metra station after midnight, misleading them to believe they were in Chicago. Local authorities provided temporary shelter and facilitated their travel to the city. Peotone and Kankakee: Migrants were found walking along highways after being dropped off without guidance. In Kankakee, a bus driver falsely informed passengers they had arrived in Chicago, leaving them stranded at a gas station. Hinsdale: The village received 11 migrant buses over 11 days, prompting officials to impose fines of $750 per passenger for unannounced bus arrivals. RELATED:Chicago-area migrant bus battle intensifies as more towns crack down To manage the situation, several suburban municipalities implemented measures to regulate migrant accommodations. Elk Grove Village introduced an ordinance prohibiting hotel and motel owners from housing individuals without medical documentation confirming they are free from contagious diseases within the past 60 days. This rule exempts those who have resided in the U.S. for at least a year. Additionally, the ordinance restricts warehouse owners from converting their buildings into temporary housing facilities. Similarly, Schaumburg enacted a tax on hotel stays exceeding 30 days to deter the prolonged housing of migrants in local hotels. This decision aimed to protect the village's convention business and address residents' concerns. What's next Mayor Johnson's upcoming testimony before Congress will likely address both the city's response to the migrant crisis and the broader impact of sanctuary city policies. Dig deeper One of the policies Johnson will likely discuss is the Welcoming City Ordinance, which stops city agencies and employees from getting involved in civil immigration enforcement or helping federal authorities with such efforts. The ordinance outlines specific restrictions, including the following: Agencies and agents cannot stop, arrest or detain individuals based solely on their immigration status or an administrative warrant, such as those found in the FBI's National Crime Information Center database. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents cannot access detainees or use city facilities for investigative purposes. City employees are restricted from spending time responding to ICE inquiries about a person's custody status, release date, or contact information unless it is to determine whether a situation involves solely civil immigration violations. Agencies are barred from entering agreements under federal law that allow local entities to enforce federal civil immigration law. The transfer of individuals into ICE custody for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement is prohibited. City resources cannot be used to assist civil immigration operations, such as setting up traffic perimeters or providing on-site support. CPD has to follow certain protocols when ICE or other federal agencies ask for help. Supervisors are responsible for figuring out if the request is about civil immigration enforcement. If it is, they have to decline the request and notify the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Chicago also has rules in place to limit how city agencies handle information about people's immigration or citizenship status. For example, agencies can't ask for, keep, or share this information unless federal law, a court order, or a warrant says they have to. There are some exceptions, like if someone gives written permission or if the city's legal team needs it for certain legal matters. Also, applications and forms for city services can't ask about someone's citizenship or immigration status. Departments need to check and update these forms every year to make sure they're following the rules. Finally, federal agencies can't access city databases or data-sharing platforms if they're trying to enforce civil immigration laws. The Source The information in this article came from previous FOX 32 Chicago coverage along with information from the city of Chicago's website.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois, Chicago sued by DOJ over sanctuary city status
CHICAGO (NewsNation) — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois, accusing officials of interfering with immigration enforcement efforts. The suit comes on the heels of a federal judge blocking President Donald Trump's executive order preventing the children of migrants without legal status from receiving birthright citizenship for the second time this week. Local leaders are pushing back against the Trump administration, asserting the city maintains its welcoming status despite federal pressure. The DOJ's lawsuit argues Chicago's state and local laws — such as the Illinois Way Forward Act, the Illinois Trust Act and Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance, which limit local police cooperation with ICE agents — interfere with the federal government's immigration enforcement. Federal buyout deadline extended as Trump plans USAID cuts Additionally, it argues the supremacy clause of the Constitution gives the federal government the right to create and enforce laws without interference from states. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker defended the laws. 'Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law,' he said, adding that the Trust Act was signed into law by a Republican governor and 'has always been compliant with federal law and still is today.' 'We look forward to seeing them in court,' Pritzker said. Some local law enforcement officials, such as Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana, argue the current legislation prevents their ability to do their jobs effectively. 'The Trust Act does not allow us to call immigration and say this person has an issue and could be dangerous — and this is where I'm concerned about public safety — this person could be dangerous, you might want to take a look at this. We can't do that,' he said. Senate installs Russell Vought as Trump's next budget chief In a social media post, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the lawsuit is under review by the city's law department and reaffirmed the city's commitment to protecting residents. Earlier this week, Johnson accused the Trump administration of trying to undermine Chicago's humanity and called for Congress to pass immigration reform. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration policies
The Trump administration sued the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago on Thursday, alleging that their sanctuary city policies are blocking federal authorities from enforcing immigration laws. The federal lawsuit is the first by President Donald Trump's Justice Department against states or municipalities that have sanctuary city policies in effect. The 22-page lawsuit, filed one day after a sanctuary jurisdiction directive was issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on her first day on the job, alleged that the sanctuary policies put in place by Illinois, Chicago and Cook County 'obstruct' the federal government from enforcing immigration laws. 'The challenged provisions of Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County law reflect their intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government's enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe,' the lawsuit reads. The suit is the latest vehicle to be used by the Trump administration as it quickly advances its mass deportation push of undocumented immigrants. It may also raise questions about the future enforcement of a directive issued days after the inauguration, when the Trump White House instructed the Justice Department to investigate state or local officials who resist the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Sanctuary cities or states are not official terms. The labels refer to a state, city, county or municipality that has enacted laws that either explicitly or effectively prevent or limit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The lawsuit specifically references Illinois' 'Trust Act,' Chicago's 'Welcoming City Ordinance' and Cook County's 'Policy for Responding to ICE Detainers.' The Illinois Trust Act, enacted in 2017, 'prevents state and local law enforcement from assisting the federal government with civil immigration enforcement but allows coordination when there is a federal criminal warrant,' according to a fact sheet describing the law provided by the office of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. Chicago's 'Welcoming City Ordinance' and Cook County's policy essentially spell out that same mission. The suit seeks both a temporary and permanent blockage on enforcement of all three of the policies. In a statement to NBC News, Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough said the state will fight the suit. 'The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today. Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals,' Gough said. 'Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump Administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court.' Johnson said in a statement that the city's law department was reviewing the suit and would "respond in due course." "Chicago is and will remain a welcoming city, with welcoming people," Johnson said. "The safety and security of Chicago residents remains the priority," he said, adding that Chicago "will continue to protect the working people of our city and defend against attacks on our longstanding values." Johnson and other Chicago officials have remained fiercely defiant against Trump on immigration issues. In the weeks following Trump's victory in November, Johnson, a Democrat, said the city 'will not bend or break' on its sanctuary laws. And last month, the Chicago City Council voted down a proposal that would have eased laws barring city officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities who are targeting individuals involved in violent crimes. Trump sparred with Chicago over the same issues during his first administration. The city was the site of one of the administration's first major enforcement actions after Trump was sworn in last month. This article was originally published on
New York Times
06-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump Administration Sues Illinois Leaders Over Immigration Enforcement
The Trump administration filed suit in a Chicago federal court on Thursday, alleging that sanctuary laws in Illinois, Chicago and Cook County are obstructing the federal government's ability to enforce immigration policies. The lawsuit names Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, both Democrats, along with Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department and other local elected officials in the nation's third-largest city. It is believed to be the new Trump administration's first legal action against state and local officials to try to make them provide more assistance in federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit asserts that local and state officials' lack of cooperation with federal enforcement of immigration laws has resulted in 'countless criminals being released into Chicago' who should have been subject to deportation. Illinois and Chicago have laws in place to limit their cooperation with federal agencies' efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. The Illinois Trust Act, which prevents local law enforcement from holding immigrant prisoners without a court warrant, was signed into law in 2017 by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican. In a statement, Mr. Pritzker said that the Trust Act has 'always been compliant with federal law and still is today.' 'Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals,' he said. A spokesman for the mayor did not immediately comment on the lawsuit. A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The Justice Department said last month that it could prosecute state and city officials who refuse to help the administration carry out its immigration agenda. It declined on Thursday to comment on the suit. Sanctuary policies, which keep local police departments mostly removed from immigration enforcement activity, have been instituted in many liberal-leaning cities as a way to build trust with immigrant communities. Elected officials in many cities say that the policies help immigrants feel comfortable reporting crimes and interacting with health departments and schools. The Trump administration conducted a multiagency immigration enforcement operation last week in Chicago, part of a vow by the president to conduct mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants across the country. Legal experts said that even if the courts find the Trump administration's executive orders on immigration to be constitutionally sound, that doesn't mean they'll go along with attempts to punish state and local officials who refuse to carry them out. Printz v. United States, a 1997 Supreme Court ruling, found that county sheriffs couldn't be compelled to perform background checks on gun buyers. Several immigration advocacy groups in Illinois filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month in an effort to block the agency from conducting certain immigration operations in Chicago.
