Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Trump administration officials, alleging unlawful immigration enforcement tactics by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Illinois. The city of Chicago has joined the state in this legal action.
“Border Patrol agents and ICE officers have acted as occupiers rather than officers of the law,” Raoul said. “They randomly, and often violently, question residents. Without warrants or probable cause, they brutally detain citizens and non-citizens alike. They use tear gas and other chemical weapons against bystanders, injuring dozens, including children, the elderly and local police officers. I filed this lawsuit to stand up for the safety of the people of Illinois and the sovereignty of our state.”
Governor JB Pritzker commented on recent federal actions: “We have watched in horror as unchecked federal agents have aggressively assaulted and terrorized our communities and neighborhoods in Illinois, undermining Constitutional rights and threatening public safety. In the face of the Trump Administration’s cruelty and intimidation, Illinois is standing up against the attacks on our people. Today, Illinois is once again taking Donald Trump to court to hold his administration accountable for their unlawful tactics, unnecessary escalations, and flagrant abuses of power.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson also addressed concerns about federal enforcement: “The Trump administration has repeatedly violated the law and undermined public trust. These actions weren’t just unlawful; they were cruel, needlessly inflicting fear and harm on our communities. My administration will forcefully protect our residents’ rights and hold anyone accountable who abuses their power. Nobody is above the law. This lawsuit is about ensuring there is accountability for the lawless actions of the Trump administration and justice for the Chicagoans who have been wronged.”
The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Eastern Division. It details how federal authorities allegedly attempted to coerce Illinois over policy differences by withholding funds unlawfully and seeking to deploy National Guard units without proper authority.
According to Raoul’s office, since September 2025 when CBP and ICE personnel were deployed to Illinois, incidents include one resident killed by agents, another shot, a military-style raid on a Chicago apartment building where all residents—including children—were detained, arrests made without warrants or probable cause, random questioning of hundreds more individuals, use of chemical weapons on peaceful residents, as well as operations at sensitive locations such as courthouses or schools.
Raoul argues that these enforcement methods violate both state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment as well as provisions within the Administrative Procedure Act.
He further alleges that DHS adopted policies harmful to residents by using roving patrols instead of targeted removals; collecting biometric data from those not crossing borders; making arrests without legal justification; deploying riot control weapons indiscriminately; operating at sensitive community sites without appropriate reasoning; trespassing private property; and concealing vehicle license plates contrary to law.
The Attorney General seeks a court order halting practices exceeding congressional authority—such as dispersing chemicals against non-resisting persons or entering private property without consent—and requiring written documentation for questioning or warrantless arrests regarding immigration status.
Additionally requested are restrictions on enforcement activities near sensitive sites like courthouses or hospitals except under extenuating circumstances with safeguards in place; visible accurate license plates on all agency vehicles; with court monitoring if judgment is granted.
The Office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul serves as Illinois’ main legal authority across multiple locations statewide according to its official website. The office provides services such as complaint handling related to fraud or civil rights issues and advocates for vulnerable groups including immigrants. Its mission includes protecting consumers, promoting safer communities and supporting public transparency throughout Illinois.
