The Democrats are protecting the illegal aliens more than their constituents.
Cook County Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Evans has issued an administrative decree that effectively bars ICE and Border Patrol agents from making civil immigration arrests at or near county courthouses, even as aliens appear for hearings.
The edict, signed late Tuesday night and going into effect Wednesday, proclaims that “no person attending or returning from a court proceeding shall be subject to a civil arrest” unless there is a judicial warrant or order.
The order explicitly limits it to civil immigration arrests. The order also includes the walkways, entryways, driveways, and parking lots contiguous to courthouses.
“The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest,” the order states.
“The common law has long recognized this privilege to ensure individuals can fulfill legal duties without risking further legal jeopardy.”
This comes after thirteen far-left “social justice” and legal organizations have filed a petition with Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
According to the petition, groups such as the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, and the Public Defender’s Office claim that ICE enforcement is causing “fear” among those attending court, especially in Domestic Violence Court.
Sharilyn Grace from the Public Defender’s Office said people were “so alarmed” by the sight of an armed individual outside the courthouse that they called 911, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
Alexa Van Brunt of the MacArthur Justice Center claimed that the presence of ICE creates a “chilling effect” that discourages illegal immigrants from attending court proceedings, saying many are now “afraid to show up” because they fear deportation.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Effective immediately at the direction of @GovPritzker by way of the Cook County Chief Judge,Timothy Evans — ICE and Border Patrol Agents are barred from making civil arrests of illegal aliens at Chicago courts.
Chicago courts now protecting child rapists. pic.twitter.com/GC8RaRL0dy
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) October 15, 2025