Politics & Government
County Judge In Chicago Area Bars ICE From Arresting People At Court
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the practice of making arrests at courthouses, calling it "common sense."
October 16, 2025 / 8:39 AM CDT
Cook County's top judge has signed an order barring ICE from arresting people at courthouses. Cook County includes Chicago, which has seen a federal immigration crackdown in recent months.
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Detaining residents outside court has been a common tactic for federal agents, who have been stationed outside county courthouses for weeks, making arrests and drawing crowds of protesters.
The order, which was signed Tuesday night and took effect Wednesday, bars the civil arrest of any "party, witness, or potential witness" while going to court proceedings. It includes arrests made inside courthouses and in parking lots, surrounding sidewalks and entryways.
