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ICE presence persists at Cook County courthouses despite new Illinois law

Location: Chicago, IL

ICE presence persists at Cook County courthouses despite new Illinois law

Despite a state law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker banning certain federal immigration arrests near courthouses and a prior order from Cook County's chief judge, immigration agents have been in or around county courthouses at least 50 times since the beginning of the year, according to a tracker kept by the public defender's office, including entering buildings at least 27 times and appearing near the domestic violence courthouse at 555 W. Harrison St. at least 22 times. Public defenders, prosecutors, and judges say the presence has a chilling effect, discouraging crime victims and defendants from attending required court dates. DHS has defended the enforcement as "common sense" that conserves resources, while advocates and lawmakers have called on Sheriff Tom Dart and Chief Judge Charles Beach to do more to prevent it.

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