ICE agents could face $10,000 fines under a Democrat law approved in Springfield on Thursday.

[Q: Is this new law good or bad for Illinois?]

Illinois State Senator Craig Wilcox in his newsletter said:

“House Bill 1312, legislation that further ties the hands of federal immigration officers (ICE) and makes it even more difficult to deport illegal immigrants, was pushed through by Democrats on the last day of veto session. The bill essentially blocks federal immigration enforcement from operating in and around Illinois courthouses. The bill prohibits civil immigration arrests inside courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them, creating “safe zones” where individuals in the country illegally can avoid detention.

Through this bill, immigration agents could face $10,000 fines and civil lawsuits simply for carrying out their duties. It even allows individuals to sue federal officers for alleged violations of “constitutional rights,” with extra penalties if agents wear masks or fail to wear body cameras. The measure is designed to intimidate and penalize ICE agents, further weakening cooperation between state authorities and federal law enforcement.

The legislation comes as the Department of Homeland Security reports more than 1,500 arrests of undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area over the past several weeks. Rather than assisting in these efforts to remove criminal offenders from Illinois communities, state leaders have doubled down on policies that shield those who have broken federal immigration law and make it harder for ICE to do its job.

This is yet another example of Illinois Democrats putting the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of public safety. The bill continues the state’s pattern of undermining federal immigration enforcement and maintains Illinois’ position as a sanctuary for those here unlawfully”

JB Pritzker is expected to sign the legislation.