The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The lawsuit challenges the “Illinois Bivens Act” and the “Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act,” which the department claims are unconstitutional attempts to regulate federal law enforcement officers. According to the complaint, these laws pose a threat to federal officers’ safety by exposing them to harassment, doxxing, and violence.
According to a DOJ press release, Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate from the Justice Department’s Civil Division said that the department is committed to protecting law enforcement from state laws that impose punitive liability and endanger officer safety.
“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like Illinois’s that threaten massive punitive liability and compromise the safety of our officers,” said Shumate.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois criticized Illinois politicians for allegedly attacking law enforcement instead of supporting federal programs like ICE’s Criminal Alien Program, which focuses on removing dangerous criminals.
“Unfortunately, Illinois politicians prefer to attack law enforcement with lawsuits and punitive damages rather than support ICE’s Criminal Alien Program, which prioritizes the safe removal of dangerous criminal aliens like murderers, child rapists, and other serious offenders,” said Weinhoeft. “Courthouse arrests are only necessary in the first place because Illinois refuses to honor federal detainers at the jails and prisons, instead preferring to release criminals back into our communities.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the Civil Division to identify state and local laws that violate or impede federal operations. This lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Civil Division to challenge policies perceived as obstructive to federal law enforcement in various states, including New York, New Jersey, and California.
