Cook County Courts Chief Judge Timothy Evans has barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making courthouse arrests, citing concerns that detention has discouraged court appearances. The order has prohibited civil detention of parties, witnesses, and visitors. Immigrant groups claimed prior arrests have undermined trust in the justice system.

Since July, ICE has arrested at least a dozen people outside Cook County courthouses. Advocacy groups said fear has kept residents from hearings, including one woman detained outside a domestic violence court.

Cook County Public Defender Cruz Rodriguez said, “I have had numerous conversations with clients who are presented with a difficult decision of either missing court and receiving an arrest warrant or coming to court and risk being arrested by ICE.”

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Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch (D) urged statewide limits on federal arrests near public institutions, while Gov. JB Pritzker suggested agents may have violated prior court restrictions. Welch stated, “We won’t sit back and let our democracy be taken from us.” He added, “If we can do something similar statewide, I’d love to get that done, because what’s happening with these ICE agents and courthouses and territories around courthouses is unacceptable.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ice-arrest-ban-sparks-clash-with-dhs-in-chicago/ss-AA1PbGWG