Illinois Lawmaker Moves to Ban Trump-Era ICE Detention Centers Near Homes and Schools

Illinois is fighting back against the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown with a new bill aimed at pushing ICE detention centers out of neighborhoods. State Representative Lilian Jiménez, a Democrat from Chicago, is spearheading legislation that would prohibit these detention facilities from operating near homes, schools, daycare centers, parks, and houses of worship.

Since September 2025, Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz unleashed masked, armed ICE agents into Illinois communities, including Chicagoland and Broadview. These agents have terrorized residents with aggressive raids and excessive force, even using tear gas against protesters. According to reports, more than 30 people have died in ICE custody statewide during this period, highlighting the deadly consequences of the administration’s immigration policies.

Jiménez points out the toll this federal overreach has taken on everyday people. “Our sense of safety has been deeply shaken,” she said. Immigrants and U.S. citizens alike live in fear of being targeted, while armed agents patrol streets near schools and places where families gather. Broadview, home to one of these detention centers, has seen its community disrupted and traumatized.

House Bill 5024 would create a 1,500-foot buffer zone around residential areas and community gathering spots, effectively banning ICE detention centers from operating in these vulnerable locations. Jiménez emphasizes that this bill is about protecting all Illinois residents, regardless of immigration status. “Children should be able to attend school and daycare, and families should be able to go to church, without the fear that stepping outside could lead to separation from their loved ones,” she said.

This legislation is a direct challenge to the Trump administration’s authoritarian tactics that weaponize immigration enforcement to sow fear and division. By pushing back, Illinois is standing up for democratic values and community safety in the face of federal abuse. As ICE continues to expand its for-profit detention system with little oversight, efforts like Jiménez’s bill are critical to holding the administration accountable and protecting civil rights at the local level.