Credibility: Original Reporting On the Ground Sources Cited Original Reporting This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). This includes directly interviewing sources and research/analysis of primary source documents. On the Ground Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns. Sources Cited As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom. Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez speaks at a press conference denouncing the presence of federal immigration agents at four Cook County courthouses on May 7, 2026. Credit: Francia Garcia Hernandez/Block Club Chicago CHICAGO — Federal immigration agents were spotted at four Cook County courthouses Thursday, where they arrested at least one person, an act that violates state law and undermines due process rights, the public defender’s office and watchdog groups said. Federal agents on Thursday were seen at the following courthouses: Cook County Domestic Violence Court, 555 W. Harrison St.; Branch 35 & 38 courthouses, 727 E. 111th St.; Branch 23 & 29, 5555 W. Grand Ave.; and the Maywood Courthouse, 1500 Maybrook Drive, said Katie Pelech, supervisor for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. One person was detained by agents at the Branch 23 & 29 courthouse for a misdemeanor property damage charge that was dismissed, said Pelech. At least two agents wore tactical vests that read “Police ICE,” according to a video taken by a rapid response member that was reviewed by Block Club. “Seeing ICE present at four courthouses all in the same morning looks like an escalation,” said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Since February, federal agents have been at or nearby Cook County courthouses at least once a week, detaining at least 12 people at the facilities, Pelech said. Officials said there is no indication federal immigration agents presented warrants when arresting people near courthouses. “What we are seeing are federal agents arresting people [who are] facing low-level allegations still cloaked in the presumption of innocence, who are following the law by showing up to court to see their cases through,” she said. This arrest comes after federal immigration agents on Tuesday detained a man at the Clinton Blue Line station following his presence at domestic violence court. Federal agents used a taser and threw him against the wall, “putting everyone in the CTA Blue Line station in danger,” Pelech said. The man is a public defender’s office client and was not identified. The CTA confirmed “a preliminary report of law enforcement activity” at the Clinton Blue Line station but did not provide additional details. In a statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office blasted the “indifference to and outright defiance of local laws by federal immigration authorities” and encouraged Chicagoans to be vigilant and report such activity to police and the Mayor’s Office. “Violent arrests which violate the rights of our residents only serve to stoke fear within our communities while inhibiting local law enforcement’s ability to keep our city safe,” said mayoral spokesperson Griffin Krueger. “We encourage residents who observe criminal violations of local law to report such violations to CPD and report incidents of federal authorities engaging in civil immigration enforcement on City property to the Mayor’s office.” Earlier that day, federal agents entered the courthouse and “engaged in threatening behavior” toward two public defenders, Pelech said. The Department of Homeland Security could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. Officials and advocates denounce the presence of federal immigration agents at four Cook County courthouses on May 7, 2026. Credit: Francia Garcia Hernandez/Block Club Chicago But in a previous statement to Block Club, a spokesman said “the ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense. It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be. It is also safer for our officers and the community. … Nothing in the constitution prohibits arresting a lawbreaker where you find them.” Illinois passed the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act in December, outlawing civil arrests by federal agents in or near courthouses in the state. In December, the Trump administration sued Illinois over the law. The case is pending in federal court. Agents have continued to target courthouses even after being continuously handed copies of a judge’s order banning civil arrests at courthouses when attempting to enter, according to the public defender’s office. “This is not behavior intended to keep anyone safe,” Pelech said. “It’s intended to intimidate and harass by using our facilities as staging grounds.” Arrests at courthouses come as organizers are also seeing an increase in reports of federal immigration agents across the city and suburbs, Tsao said. Earlier this week, Border Czar Tom Homan said “mass deportations are coming” while speaking at a Border Security Expo, according to NPR. Organizers said they continue to be prepared to monitor immigration enforcement operations and support immigrant communities. “We are fighting back. We’re not going to let that fear dictate our actions,” Diego Morales, an organizer for the rapid response team Pilsen PUÑO, said Thursday. Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez said she is looking for local law enforcement agencies to do more to proactively enforce the state law prohibiting agents from making civil immigration arrests at or around local courthouses. “Our local law enforcement can do a better job of showing that they want to have safe spaces for our residents, including immigrants,” Vasquez said. Immigrant rights advocates also called for state officials to support and fund the Illinois Access to Justice Program. The program, made up of over 90 organizations, provides access to free legal representation and Know Your Rights education across the state. “We are demanding $50 million from the state to fully fund this program in the upcoming fiscal year. This is not a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity when federal authorities are attacking the rule of law,” said Tovia Siegel, director of organizing for The Resurrection Project. Post navigation