Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a slate of legislation Tuesday morning to protect immigrants from "unjust" federal immigration enforcement actions.

The new law puts several preventative measures in place, including banning civil immigration arrests at courthouses.

Thousands of people were arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents during two and a half months of heightened enforcement action the Trump administration dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

Pritzker signed the bill at La Villita Community Church at 2300 S. Millard Street in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, which saw intense ICE raids in which federal agents deployed tear gas and detained several people, including U.S. citizens and two city employees.

The signing was accompanied by several passionate speeches from people who helped make the legislation a realty. They are proud of their work, but many are frustrated these measures are even necessary. They are also upset the bill didn't pass unanimously in Springfield.

"What more needs to happen that you will come and support us?? This is time for everyone to speak up including those on the other side," said State Sen. Omar Aquino.

House Bill 1312 passed during the fall veto session in the thick of Operation Midway Blitz.

"After what our communities experienced, we understood our response needed to be deep and comprehensive," Pritzker said. "Together, we're sending a message to Donald Trump, to Kristi Noem, to Gregory Bovino and anyone else seeking to terrorize our people: your divisiveness and brutality are not welcome here."

The law prohibits civil arrests in and around Illinois courthouses, and allows anyone falsely arrested around court a clear path to sue for $10,000 in damages.

Hospitals have new healthcare sanctity and privacy laws, requiring new policies for when law enforcement visits. The law also tightens conditions for releasing health information, and instructs hospitals to protect information about patients' immigration status.

Illinois universities also need to draft new rules for allowing law enforcement on campus, restricting a whole host of decisions based on the perceived or real immigration status of students and staff.

At daycares, the state-licensed operators need to develop new action plans for when law enforcement come knocking, more abundant "know your rights" language posted at each facility, and to tighten conditions on sharing documentation with law enforcement.

Finally, the slate of legislation will also allow people to file civil lawsuits against law enforcement officers who violate Illinois or U.S. constitutional rights of members of the public, Pritzker said.

"This new set of laws can't mitigate all harm but gives new tools and are a symbol of protective action," said the governor.

Tuesday's bills signing comes about a month after Pritzker issued an executive order creating a commission to keep a permanent record of alleged civil rights abuses by federal agents in Chicago.

Most of these new laws go into effect today, but other parts will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026 or in March.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, called the laws Pritzker signed unconstitutional.

"He must be unfamiliar with the US Constitution," McLaughlin said. "By signing this law, Pritzker violated the Supremacy Clause, his oath he took as Governor to 'support the Constitution of the United States' — which itself falls under the oaths clause of the Constitution. We hope the headlines, social media likes, and fundraising emails he did this for are worth it!"

Immigration enforcement actions have slowed but not stopped as winter arrived in Chicago, but those with the clearest insight into ICE and Border Patrol plans believe this is a lull before another ramp up when warmer weather returns in 2026. Insiders expect an increase in ICE and Border Patrol activity in the new year, as President Trump's spending and border security package would provide an additional $150 billion for immigration enforcement over the next four years.