Montgomery, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined 22 other state attorneys general in filing an amicus curiae brief in the case of United States v. State of Illinois, urging the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to allow a federal lawsuit against Illinois, the City of Chicago, and Cook County to proceed. The coalition argues that local and state sanctuary laws conflict with federal immigration statutes and obstruct the enforcement of national immigration policy.
The brief contends that Illinois and its municipalities have adopted policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, including denying access to individuals who are in the United States unlawfully. According to the filing, these policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and directly conflict with federal laws such as 8 U.S.C. §1324, which criminalizes efforts to shield undocumented immigrants from detection and apprehension.
Attorney General Marshall emphasized the impact of immigration enforcement issues on Alabama and other states. “Alabama is feeling the consequences of the illegal immigration invasion,” he stated, expressing support for what he described as a renewed commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
The brief also argues that sanctuary policies place a financial and operational burden on other states by contributing to increased costs in public services such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement. The coalition estimates that states are spending billions of dollars annually in response to the effects of unauthorized immigration.
The attorneys general ask the court to affirm the federal government’s authority over immigration enforcement and to reject attempts by states or localities to implement policies that conflict with federal law.
The brief was led by the State of Ohio and joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
