Immigration Hub Responds to AG Bondi’s Latest Immigration Memos and Lawsuit Against Illinois and Chicago

Washington, D.C. – On her first day in office, Attorney General Pam Bondi wasted no time advancing Trump’s agenda, issuing directives to strip federal funding from cities and states and target organizations that support immigrant communities. These memos threaten to withhold critical resources for local law enforcement and nonprofits that are providing social services to our communities. Bondi also sued the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago for allegedly preventing President Trump’s administration from enforcing immigration policies.  

Statement from Beatriz Lopez, Co-Executive Director of the Immigration Hub:

“Pam Bondi is following Trump’s lead to the letter. By targeting essential funding and resources for cities that are prioritizing and protecting their communities, Bondi isn’t just attacking immigrant families—she’s putting all American families at risk. These cuts threaten to disrupt critical programs like local law enforcement and public safety programs, as well as social services for vulnerable communities. 

“On top of that, Trump and Bondi are trying to make examples out of Illinois and Chicago for no other reason than political theater. It’s a waste of time and dollars. This is chaotic governance that attempts to dictate how mayors and local law enforcement keep their communities safe while blocking critical funding that empowers all working families. It’s another move designed to erode trust between local governments and the communities they serve, all in an effort to realize Trump’s ideal America, where billionaires get richer and working families pay the price.”

Quick facts from the Immigration Hub on DOJ’s memos and lawsuit:

1. Memo on Sanctuary Jurisdictions Directives (link). Consistent with Trump’s Day 1 EOs, this memo states that the DOJ will stop federal grants to sanctuary jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration laws. Specifically, it calls for: 
   1. a 30-day review of the grants that could be subject to this requirement;
   2. a 60-day review of funding agreements with NGOs that “support illegal aliens.” During this period, funding distribution will be paused for 60 days, and receipt of future funding will be conditioned on NGOs certifying their compliance with federal laws; and
   3. renewed threats to pursue legal actions against jurisdictions that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws, etc. 
2. Memo on General Policy Re: Charging, Plea Negotiations, and Sentencing (link). This memo states that it will use all available statutes to “combat” illegal immigration and support DHS in its work to operationalize the Trump/Miller agenda. Specifically, the memo:
   1. Directs the applicable DOJ division to pursue all applicable charges, but singles out 4 areas: 
      • Registration of Aliens 
      • Harboring; Unlawful Employment and Re-entry
      • Suing sanctuary localities
      • Slew of catch-all violations 
   2.  Each incident of localities declining to help the federal government will be recorded as an “Urgent Report” in the DOJ system and reported out on a quarterly basis.
3. Today, the DOJ also filed a lawsuit against the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago.
   1. The lawsuit asks the Court to prohibit the State of Illinois and cities in Illinois from enforcing several state and local laws—namely, the Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, Welcoming City Act, and Cook County, Ill. Ordinance 11-O73—that DOJ alleges “are designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.