Federal–State Power and Sanctuary Cities

Chicago and the State of Illinois have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging what they call 'illegal actions' by immigration agents—alleging ICE officers have interrogated people about citizenship status without cause, carried out civil immigration arrests without warrants, used 'noxious chemicals' in public areas, and conducted operations at or near so‑called sensitive locations such as schools and shelters. The suit also contends DHS personnel have trespassed on city‑ and state‑owned property and that the White House is using policy levers to coerce Illinois and Chicago to abandon their sanctuary‑style limits on cooperation. In an exclusive response, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin mocked the plaintiffs for 'miraculously' discovering the 10th Amendment only when resisting federal law enforcement, labeled the case 'baseless,' and argued that Illinois politicians have released violent non‑citizens who then harmed residents, citing the drunk‑driving death of college‑bound Illinois resident Katie Abraham. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson echoed the attack, calling the lawsuit by Mayor Brandon Johnson and Attorney General Kwame Raoul a 'pathetic stunt' that proves Democrats 'put illegal criminals over hardworking Americans' and insisting the administration will keep aggressive ICE operations in place. The clash sets up a high‑profile court test over how far federal agents can go in conducting civil immigration enforcement on local turf and near community institutions, and whether sanctuary jurisdictions can use federalism arguments to rein in those tactics.