U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has dismissed a lawsuit from the Trump administration that sought to block Illinois’ Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. The administration argued the state law conflicted with federal immigration enforcement regarding the E-Verify program. The court upheld Illinois’ authority over employment regulation, reinforcing state power in this area.

Coleman argued Illinois has authority over employment and that federal immigration law weakens state powers. The Trump administration has claimed Illinois’ law violates the 1986 IRCA by sanctioning employers of unauthorized workers.

Coleman wrote, “The federal government’s broad interpretation of its power to regulate matters of immigration would swallow the historic powers of the states over employment-related issues.”

Coleman added, “A person’s immigration or work authorization status is irrelevant to determine whether an employer has violated any of the provisions of the act.”

Coleman dismissed the administration’s claims. She claimed the government’s position is “simply too speculative a basis on which to rest a finding of pre-emption.”

Coleman added that the law “is not expressly preempted by IRCA and does not intrude upon the federal government’s constitutional powers in the space of immigration and foreign affairs.”

The ruling dealt a setback to Trump’s immigration policy, affirming state authority over employment and potentially spurring similar laws elsewhere. The administration reportedly plans to appeal to the Seventh Circuit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-suffers-major-legal-blow-in-illinois/ss-AA1Lldgs