As President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown grips the Chicago area in fear, a burgeoning resistance movement has also emerged here to challenge — as well as evade — immigration

The Trump administration has sued Illinois and Chicago, alleging its laws are impeding on federal efforts to enforce immigration laws.

The Justice Department accused the Democratic strongholds of unlawfully interfering with Trump's crackdown and seeking a court order blocking so-called sanctuary laws.

President Donald Trump’s administration went to court Thursday to challenge sanctuary policies in the state of Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago that limit the powers of state and local police to assist federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.

The federal lawsuit is the first by Trump's Justice Department against states or municipalities that have sanctuary city policies.

The Trump administration launched an immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago on Sunday that includes several federal agencies who have been granted additional authorities to arrest undocumented immigrants in the United States,

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who did not immediately respond to request for comment, has defended the city's sanctuary laws. He and other mayors plan to testify next month at a

Federal officials are asking a judge to bar the Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and the Cook County Sheriff from using local laws that protect migrants to hamper law enforcement.