Case: State of Illinois v. Department of Homeland Security

1:26-cv-00321 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Jan. 12, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

In September 2025, the DHS deployed quasi-military personnel from Border Patrol to Illinois and Chicago. Border Patrol allegedly employed tactics in Chicago and other locations in Illinois that were unauthorized, unprecedented, and ineffective for removal operations. In response, the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago brought this suit against various members of the Trump Administration in their official capacities. 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131845/parties/state-of-illinois-v-department-of-homeland-security/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00321

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

State of Illinois et al. v. Department of Homeland Security et al.

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131845/state-of-illinois-v-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated Feb. 7, 2026, 12:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by State of Illinois ; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-24581339.(Berks, Paul) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

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2

CIVIL Cover Sheet (Berks, Paul) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

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3

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Paul Berks (Berks, Paul) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

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4

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Vikas Kumar Didwania (Didwania, Vikas) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

5

MOTION by Plaintiff State of Illinois to reassign case to Related Case (Didwania, Vikas) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

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6

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Emily Hirsch (Hirsch, Emily) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

7

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Chelsey Blaire Metcalf (Metcalf, Chelsey) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

8

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Rebecca Alfert Hirsch (Hirsch, Rebecca) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

9

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Cara A Hendrickson (Hendrickson, Cara) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

10

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Alexandra Lane Reed (Reed, Alexandra) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

11

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Robert Henry Weaver (Weaver, Robert) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

12

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Elizabeth H. Jordan (Jordan, Elizabeth) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

13

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Rachel Elisheva Zemke (Zemke, Rachel) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

14

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff State of Illinois by Mary Johanna Grieb (Grieb, Mary) (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

24

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N. Alexakis: Before the Court is plaintiffs' motion to reassign this matter based on relatedness to Judge Sara L. Ellis, who is presiding over 25 CV 12173. Under Local Rule 40.4(c), motions to reassign based on relatedness "shall be filed in the lowest-numbered case of the claimed related set and noticed before the judge assigned to that case." Therefore, plaintiffs' motion is one for Judge Ellis to resolve, not this Court. On those grounds, this Court denies plaintiffs' motion 5 . The parties are directed to notify the Court promptly after Judge Ellis resolves any motion to reassign on relatedness grounds filed in 25 CV 12173, unless material developments warrant this Court's attention before then. Emailed notice (cn). (Entered: 01/12/2026)

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

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case assigned

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

clerk's notice

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Georgia N. Alexakis. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Gabriel A. Fuentes. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 3). (jks, )

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (jks, )

Jan. 12, 2026

Jan. 12, 2026

25

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendants Michael W Banks, Gregory Bovino, Department of Homeland Security, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Samuel Olson, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director, Rodney S Scott, U.S. BORDER PATROL, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons)(pjj, ) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

26

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by John James Kauffman (Kauffman, John) (Entered: 01/13/2026)

Jan. 13, 2026

Jan. 13, 2026

28

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendant U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (pjj, ) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

29

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff City of Chicago by Stephen J Kane (Kane, Stephen) (Entered: 01/14/2026)

Jan. 14, 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

32

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis: In-court status hearing held on 1/22/2026. Government to file its position regarding allowing Plaintiff's counsel in the 25-cv-12173 action to provide copies of the discovery produced by the Government to Plaintiff's counsel in the 26-cv-321 action by 1/29/2026. In-court status hearing set for 2/19/2026 at 2:30 PM, and with initial joint status report due by 2/12/2026. Emailed notice (rj, ) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Jan. 22, 2026

Jan. 22, 2026

30

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis: Case reassigned to the Honorable Sara L. Ellis for all further proceedings pursuant to Local Rule 40.4. Mailed notice. (Attachments: # 1 Request for Reassignment) (lw, ) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

1 Request for Reassignment

View on RECAP

Jan. 23, 2026

Jan. 23, 2026

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31

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS held on January 22, 2026 before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis. Order Number: 54356. Court Reporter Contact Information: Kelly M. Fitzgerald, kmftranscripts@gmail.com, 312-818-6626. IMPORTANT: The transcript may be viewed at the court's public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through the Court Reporter/Transcriber or PACER. For further information on the redaction process, see the Court's web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov under Quick Links select Policy Regarding the Availability of Transcripts of Court Proceedings. Redaction Request due 2/13/2026. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 2/23/2026. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 4/23/2026. (Fitzgerald, Kelly) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

Jan. 23, 2026

Jan. 23, 2026

33

MOTION by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, State of Illinois for leave to file brief of Amicus Curiae of Elder Mmoja Ajabu, Director of Pan-Afrikan Affiars for the Black Panther Movement, in support of Plaintiffs. (Envelope postmark 1/21/2026) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 1/23/26.) (Received for docketing 1/28/26) (ph, ) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan. 23, 2026

Jan. 23, 2026

34

BRIEF of Amicus Curiae Elder Mmoja Ajabu, Director of Pan-Afrikan Affairs for the The Black Panther Movement, in support of Plaintiffs raising the constitutional question of tranny interest of Amicus Curiae. (Envelope postmark 1/21/2026) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 1/23/26.) (Received for docketing 1/28/26) (ph, ) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan. 23, 2026

Jan. 23, 2026

35

CERTIFICATE of Service by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, State of Illinois regarding MOTION by Plaintiffs City of Chicago, State of Illinois for leave to file 33, brief, 34 . (Envelope postmark 1/21/2026) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 1/23/26.) (Received for docketing 1/28/26) (ph, ) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan. 23, 2026

Jan. 23, 2026

36

RESPONSE by Defendants Michael W Banks, Gregory Bovino, Department of Homeland Security, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Samuel Olson, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director, Rodney S Scott, U.S. BORDER PATROL, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to in court hearing,, set deadlines/hearings, 32 Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Request to Share Discovery Information from Chicago Headline Club case (Warden, Andrew) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan. 29, 2026

Jan. 29, 2026

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37

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendants Michael W Banks, Gregory Bovino, Department of Homeland Security, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Samuel Olson, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director, Rodney S Scott, U.S. BORDER PATROL, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by Andrew Irwin Warden (Warden, Andrew) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Jan. 29, 2026

Jan. 29, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 12, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:26-cv-00321

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket