Local officials warn of ICE arrests at domestic violence courthouse, decry feds violating state law

Federal immigration agents are violating Illinois law and making arrests at Chicago-area courthouses, several local officials alleged at a press conference Thursday.

The Cook County Public Defender’s office said since late February, federal immigration agents have been spotted entering the Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 W. Harrison St., or waiting directly outside.

In at least two of those instances, someone was arrested, including that of a woman followed out of the courthouse and detained by federal agents March 10. The other occurred February 27, officials said. Still another person was detained on March 18 at a different location, the Maywood courthouse.

The press conference was held hours after federal agents returned to the courthouse with “the intent to take custody of a person who was scheduled to appear for a hearing today,” the Cook County Public Defender’s office said. Officials said they weren’t aware of any arrests being made Thursday, but noted they don’t always immediately know when someone is taken.

“Survivors should be able to walk into a courthouse without fear [that] doing the right thing will put a target on their backs,” Illinois Sen,. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, said at Thursday’s press conference. “This is contempt for our laws, our courts and survivors.”

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law in December banning federal agents from conducting civil immigration enforcement at state courthouses after the Chief Judge’s office barred civil arrests at county courthouses in October. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also signed an executive order prohibiting feds from staging on county property as Chicago, Evanston and others did the same.

Officials pointed to a pivot in federal immigration activity, away from neighborhoods where they faced heavy resistance, and to places like courthouses and airports where it can be more difficult for communities to respond.

Sharlyn Grace, deputy public defender for policy at the Cook County Public Defender’s office, said reports of federal agents using county property to stage had fallen off since Preckwinkle’s order banning them from doing so, which she said was a good sign for the legislative tools officials did have.

However, the law they alleged federal agents were violating doesn't carry criminal penalties; it requires the person detained to file a civil lawsuit — something she admitted is already a challenge for those detained by the feds.

“It’s one of our only tools,” Grace said. “But it’s obviously limited by a person in immigration custody to access a lawyer.”

Maralea Negron, vice president of policy and impact at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, said having Border Patrol and ICE agents at courthouses would have a “chilling effect” on domestic violence survivors working with the justice system.

“Our society tells survivors to report to law enforcement and go to the courts, and yet when they do, they and their families can be taken,” Negron said. “The presence of ICE makes the decision to leave an abusive relationship or household even harder.”