Cook County Judge Protects Courtgoers by Banning ICE Arrests at Courthouses

Cook County, Illinois, has enacted a landmark order banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests at courthouses, aiming to protect individuals, especially victims of domestic violence, from immigration enforcement tactics.

• On Tuesday night, Cook County, Illinois chief judge signed an order that prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from making civil arrests at courthouses, effective immediately.
• This decision comes in response to a federal immigration crackdown in Chicago, where ICE has been reported to detain individuals outside county courthouses for weeks, alarming local communities.
• The order is significant for public defenders and advocates who argue that courthouse arrests deter victims of domestic violence from seeking legal help, thereby endangering vulnerable populations.