Some survivors of domestic abuse in Cook County are reportedly being forced to choose between their personal safety or potential deportation, and advocates are calling on the county's chief judge to take action to change that.
Representatives from the Cook County Public Defender's Office have joined leaders of several advocacy groups to call on Chief Judge Timothy Evans to issue an order making clear that no arrests can happen outside court buildings without warrants.
Alexa van Brunt from the MacArthur Justice Center said recent reports of ICE agents waiting outside courthouses, including the Domestic Violence Court in the West Loop, to detain people believed to be undocumented has already had a chilling effect on efforts to help survivors of domestic violence.
"They are being forced to choose between their own safety and being arrested by ICE and being ripped apart from their families," she said during an appearance at Domestic Violence Court, 555 W. Harrison St.
Carla Gutierrez from the advocacy group Mujeres Latinas en Acción said she’s also heard from some victims who have chosen not to seek orders of protection or other resources from the courts.
"When immigration enforcement invades those spaces, it pushes survivors back into the shadows," she said. "We cannot solve or reduce crime if the families fear the very systems meant to ensure their safety."
Sharlyn Grace from the Cook County Public Defender's office said those enforcement actions have been unnerving for courthouse workers and judges as well.
"When there are armed agents outside of our courts who are unidentified and carrying weapons, it affects everyone," she said, describing a recent encounter that led some court staff to call 9-1-1.
We’ve asked the Chief Judge's office for a response.