Barring ICE Arrests In and Around Courthouses

The City of Chicago has been a target of the Trump Administration’s intense immigration enforcement since day one. Since the launch of “Operation Midway Blitz” on September 8, 2025, large numbers of immigrants have been arrested everyday by ICE at their homes and workplaces, in their cars, on the street, and even inside courthouses.

Social and legal service organizations, such as Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Ascend Justice, and Life Span, have expressed grave concern over their clients being unable to attend court out of fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stalking the court grounds. As a result of ICE’s intimidation tactics and arrests at Cook County courthouses, clients have abandoned orders of protection against abusers and declined to appear in court on domestic violence cases. Victim advocates feared that people would “need to choose between reporting domestic violence and facing ICE when they show up to court.” Criminal defense attorneys have noted that clients facing even minor traffic matters refuse to go to court out of fear.

On October 1, 2025, the MacArthur Justice Center and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender filed a joint petition demanding that the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County issue a General Order to halt these unjustified arrests. Under long-standing common law principles, civil arrests should not occur without a judicial warrant or order, especially in or near court property — yet ICE continues to detain individuals near public entryways, sidewalks, parking areas, and walkways leading to the courts.

MacArthur Justice Center filed this petition on behalf of the following legal and social services organizations: Apna Ghar, Ascend Justice, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, Family Rescue, James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Law Center for Better Housing, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Legal Action Chicago, Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services, Life Span, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, The Network, and Westside Justice Center.

UPDATE

On October 9, 2025, Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle joined the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and MJC in calling on Chief Judge Timothy Evans to enforce the general order.

On October 14, 2025, Chief Judge Timothy Evans granted MJC’s petition and issued General Administrative Order No. 2025-10, Common Law Privilege Against Civil Arrests for People Attending Court.