A federal judge appointed by ex-President Joe Biden just tossed a lawsuit that the Trump administration had brought against Chicago. 

The lawsuit, according to Fox News, was against the city's sanctuary policies.

The decision was made by Judge Lindsay Jenkins of the Northern District of Illinois. As mentioned, she is one of the federal court judges whom Biden appointed.

It remains to be seen whether the administration of President Donald Trump will appeal the matter.

Background

One of President Trump's central campaign promises was to crack down on illegal immigration, and, during the first six months or so of his administration, he has made significant progress.

Still, he has been slowed down by some states that have refused to cooperate with federal immigration officials, particularly by those who provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants from the federal government.

Fox explains:

Sanctuary cities or sanctuary policies limit co-operation between local officials and law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration has long railed against the measures, arguing they make such areas a haven for criminal illegal immigrants and contribute to increased crime.

Chicago, Illinois, would be one of many examples of a sanctuary city. Back in February 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Chicago of unlawfully interfering with Trump's immigration crackdown, Fox reports.

Now, Jenkins has just released her decision in the matter.

A Tenth Amendment shield?

The Hill reports that, in her decision, "Jenkins said that the Tenth Amendment . . . shielded the decision of local law enforcement to avoid collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other immigration agencies."

The outlet goes on to quote Jenkins as writing:

Finding that these same Policy provisions constitute discrimination or impermissible regulation would provide an end-run around the Tenth Amendment. It would allow the federal government to commandeer States under the guise of intergovernmental immunity — the exact type of direct regulation of states barred by the Tenth Amendment.

The Trump administration, according to Fox, had argued that Chicago's "laws violate the U.S. Constitution's 'Supremacy Clause' under the Tenth Amendment, which states that federal law preempts state and local laws that may conflict with it."

The question now is whether the Trump DOJ will appeal the matter.

This, according to Fox, is one of several similar lawsuits that the Trump DOJ has brought against sanctuary areas of the country. Per the outlet:

The Trump administration has sued several jurisdictions over their sanctuary policies, including a filing this week against New York City. The administration has also sued several New Jersey cities, as well as Los Angeles.