CHICAGO (WLS) — The Department of Justice is suing Chicago, the state of Illinois and Cook County over sanctuary city policies.

In the 23 page lawsuit just filed Thursday morning in Chicago, federal prosecutors argue that local and state laws violate federal immigration law.

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The lawsuit accuses city, county and state authorities of “thwarting” federal immigration law over several years.

It specifically calls out Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance and Illinois’ Trust Act which prevents local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement and from sharing information about immigration status of criminals.

SEE ALSO: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will testify for House committee on sanctuary cities on March 5

The Department of Justice wants the court to block the laws, saying they are unconstitutional the lawsuit saying the local laws, “reflect their intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe.”

Governor JB Pritzker’s office released a statement saying, “Unlike Donald Trump, Illinois follows the law. The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today. Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals. Instead of working with us to support law enforcement, the Trump Administration is making it more difficult to protect the public, just like they did when Trump pardoned the convicted January 6 violent criminals. We look forward to seeing them in court.”

Thursday morning, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle commented on defending against policies of the Trump administration.

“We’re going to fight back,” Preckwinkle said. “We will pursue every legal opportunity to defend the programs that we believe in and defend our values.”

The lawsuit comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to testify next month before the House Oversight Committee.

As the federal government stepped up their immigration sweeps and raids at the end of December, Mayor Johnson has reaffirmed Chicago’s welcoming city status.

SEE ALSO: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will testify for House committee on sanctuary cities on March 5

“Regardless of who is in the White House, Chicago is a city that opens its arms to people from around the globe,” he said on January 28. “We will continue to protect civil and human rights, and we welcome all individuals and families who want to work, live and thrive here in our beloved city. The Welcoming City Ordinance is a law, and it is the law of the land here in Chicago. We will uphold it, along with the complementary Illinois Trust Act to ensure that our immigrant communities are safe.”

Also named in the lawsuit are the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff.

ABC7 has reached out to the city, governor’s office and sheriff’s office for comment.

The Chicago Police Department said they do not comment on pending litigation and the Chicago Law Department said they are reviewing the lawsuit.