DOJ sues Pritzker, Illinois AG over law limiting immigration actions [View all]

Source: The Hill

12/23/25 2:57 PM ET


The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Monday against Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D), challenging a state law that aims to limit the scope of federal immigration action and protect people against unconstitutional conduct by agents during civil immigration enforcement.

Justice Department officials say the “Illinois Bivens Act” and the “Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act” — measures included in H.B. 312, which Pritzker signed into law earlier this month — represent an “unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal law enforcement officers” and “threaten the safety of federal officers,” who they say have seen a rise in harassment and threats of violence in recent months.

“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like Illinois’ that threaten massive punitive liability and compromise the safety of our officers,” Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, of the department’s Civil Division, said in a statement.

The Illinois Bivens Act gives individuals the right to sue anyone who knowingly violates the Illinois Constitution or U.S. Constitution while conducting civil immigration enforcement. It aims to provide legal recourse for individuals amid concerns about the aggressive tactics used during heightened federal immigration enforcement in Illinois.

Read more: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5661443-illinois-immigration-law-challenged/