NW Illinois News

Li Arellano Jr., representing Illinois State Senate District 37, addressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit concerning Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County's sanctuary policies. He said that the lawsuit "seeks to hold the governor accountable for these dangerous decisions." Arellano made this statement on Facebook on February 15.

"With the U.S. Department of Justice filing a lawsuit against the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and Cook County to over sanctuary laws, many Republican state legislators are demanding that Gov. Pritzker support the repeal of the Trust Act," said Li Arellano, Jr., State Senator, according to Facebook. "The Trust Act restricts cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and the lawsuit accuses these jurisdictions of hindering federal immigration enforcement by limiting local law enforcement's ability to work with ICE. Chicago has become a major focus of ICE operations. I have spoken to many in Chicago and elsewhere--including legal immigrants and naturalized citizens--who want to see laws properly enforced."

The Facebook post featured a Fox News video titled "J.B. Pritzker Has a Long History of Not Following the Law: Chicago Attorney." In this video, Andrew Stoltman, a Chicago attorney and Northern Adjunct law professor, discussed the lawsuit and alleged interference by Illinois and Chicago leaders in mass deportation plans. Stoltman described the lawsuit as "really solid" and argued that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution applies. He said that the law was filed to pressure Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to understand they cannot interfere with federal immigration laws.

Screenshot of State Senator Li Arellano Jr.'s Feb. 15 Facebook post | State Senator Li Arellano Jr.'s Facebook page

According to Arellano’s Facebook post, he expressed that citizens appreciate focusing on targeting criminal elements first in federal immigration operations in Chicago. He argued that Pritzker’s defiance shields violent offenders from deportation, leaving communities vulnerable. Arellano believes the lawsuit aims to hold the governor accountable for dangerous decisions and restore law enforcement’s ability to remove violent criminals from the streets.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told NPR that the city remains firm in its stance that the police department will not engage in immigration enforcement. He emphasized that Chicago will continue to fight for and stand up for working people. NPR also cited a statement from Governor Pritzker’s office, which said that the bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and continues to be.

Liandro "Li" Arellano Jr., elected to Illinois' State Senate District 37 in 2024, previously served as Mayor of Dixon for eight years and opened his first restaurant at age 26, according to his official biography. He is also an Army Reservist serving as a Squad Leader for the 317th Engineer Construction Company in Homewood.