Why It Matters
Illinois officials and victim advocacy groups are raising alarms that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are conducting civil immigration arrests at or near a Cook County courthouse that handles domestic violence cases. The development carries significant legal implications under both state and county law, and advocates warn it could discourage immigrant victims of domestic violence from seeking legal protection.
Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and is Illinois’ most populous county, has ordinances and courthouse sanctuary policies designed to limit civil immigration enforcement on courthouse grounds. Officials say the reported ICE activity may directly conflict with those protections.
What Happened
Local officials and domestic violence advocates issued warnings in early April 2026 that ICE agents have been seen operating at or near the Cook County courthouse that handles domestic violence proceedings. The alerts came after reports surfaced of individuals being approached or detained in connection with civil immigration enforcement at the facility.
Civil immigration arrests conducted in or near courthouses are prohibited under Illinois state law as well as Cook County policies. Advocates say the presence of federal immigration agents at the domestic violence courthouse undermines the legal process for vulnerable individuals who depend on courts to obtain protective orders and pursue cases against abusers.
Domestic violence organizations have long warned that any perception of immigration enforcement at courthouses creates a chilling effect, causing immigrant victims to avoid filing for orders of protection or appearing as witnesses. Officials have not yet confirmed specific details about the number of individuals detained or the precise dates of reported enforcement activity.
By the Numbers
1 — The number of Cook County courthouses specifically flagged in the current warnings, focused on domestic violence proceedings.
2 — The layers of legal protection potentially implicated: Illinois state law and Cook County ordinance both restrict civil immigration arrests at courthouse facilities.
Millions — Cook County is home to an estimated 5.2 million residents, including one of the largest immigrant populations of any county in the Midwest.
Thousands — Cook County processes thousands of domestic violence cases annually, with a significant share involving immigrant petitioners or respondents who may be deterred by immigration enforcement fears.
2017 — The year Illinois enacted broader courthouse protection guidelines, following a national wave of concern about ICE activity near judicial facilities during the first Trump administration.
Zoom Out
The warnings in Illinois are part of a broader national pattern. Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, his administration has directed immigration enforcement agencies to rescind longstanding policies that previously designated courthouses, schools, and hospitals as sensitive locations where civil immigration arrests were generally avoided.
Similar conflicts between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies have emerged in jurisdictions across the country, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Denver. Courts in several states have seen reports of immigrant victims withdrawing domestic violence complaints or failing to appear at hearings out of fear of ICE encounters.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been a vocal opponent of federal immigration enforcement in the city, maintaining Chicago’s sanctuary city designation and publicly defending those policies. Johnson has faced scrutiny on other public safety matters as well, including his response to the death of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman.
Cook County officials have separately been navigating budget and policy pressures, including ongoing debates about property tax reform. A recent Cook County property tax report called for state-level reform, with Governor Pritzker directing criticism at school districts over funding structures.
What’s Next
Cook County officials and the State’s Attorney’s office are expected to review whether the reported courthouse activity constitutes a violation of existing state and local law. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office has previously engaged on questions of civil immigration enforcement conflicts with state statute, and further legal action or formal complaints are possible.
Domestic violence advocacy organizations are urging the county to issue public reassurances to immigrant victims and to coordinate with courthouse security personnel to document and report any future ICE presence on or near courthouse grounds.
At the federal level, the Trump administration has shown no indication it intends to restore the sensitive locations policy for courthouses, meaning local and state officials will likely need to pursue legal remedies or legislative action to enforce existing protections independently.