ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL FILES BRIEF OPPOSING UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION ARRESTS

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL FILES BRIEF OPPOSING UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION ARRESTS

October 20, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in support of litigation challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) policy and practice of conducting unlawful warrantless civil immigration arrests.

In an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Escobar-Molina v. DHS, the coalition explains under federal law, immigration officers conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests must have probable cause to believe an individual is unlawfully present in the United States and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained. Federal law allows immigration officers to make an arrest without a warrant only when there is probable cause to believe a person is unlawfully present and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained.

"The Trump administration continues to instill fear and distrust within immigrant communities in Illinois and around the country with unnecessarily cruel and unlawful tactics," Raoul said. "I will continue to stand with my colleagues and support the rights of all immigrants as we fight against the federal government's immoral actions that disrupt our communities."

In their brief, Raoul and the attorneys general argue the widespread harms of unlawful immigration enforcement practices disrupt communities and undermine public health, safety, education and local economies. The brief explains some of the disruptions have kept students out of school, disrupted agricultural work, discouraged people from seeking medical care, undermined families' financial stability, and weakened the relationship between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

This case challenges DHS' policy and practice of conducting unlawful warrantless civil immigration arrests in the District of Columbia. In December 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted in part a motion for a preliminary injunction.

Joining Raoul in filing today's brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.