Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a multistate coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing a new federal policy that mandates indefinite detention of many undocumented immigrants without the opportunity for a bond hearing. 

In the brief filed in Bautista v. Noem, Raoul and the coalition challenge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unprecedented reinterpretation of immigration law, arguing it violates due process and federal statutes, and inflicts widespread harm on families, communities and state economies. 

“Undocumented immigrants have significantly contributed to our economy for years. This new federal policy mandating indefinite detention without an option of a bond hearing will disrupt our labor force while wasting taxpayer dollars and harming families,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general protecting the rights of immigrants and their families.” 

For decades, immigrants living in the U.S. who were placed in removal proceedings had the right to request a bond hearing for a chance to argue for their release while their immigration case was pending. DHS’s new policy eliminates that right for those who entered the country without inspection, mandating their indefinite detention regardless of individual circumstances. Many of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for years and now face confinement in often overcrowded, unsafe, and unsanitary facilities for months or even years. As DHS expands its enforcement efforts, millions more immigrants could be subjected to mandatory detention under this policy. 

More than nine million U.S. citizens, including over four million children, live with at least one undocumented family member. Studies show that the detention of a parent significantly increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder in children, and deepens economic instability for entire households. Fear of detention already deters immigrant families from seeking health care, food assistance, and reporting crimes, undermining both public safety and public health. Raoul and the attorneys general argue that the mandatory detention policy significantly exacerbates these effects. 

Undocumented immigrants also constitute nearly five percent of the U.S. workforce and play critical roles in industries such as agriculture in construction. In 2023, undocumented-led households paid nearly $90 billion in taxes and contributed almost $300 billion in consumer spending. Attorney General Raoul and the coalition argue that unnecessarily detaining these workers disrupts the labor force and undermines local and state economies. The attorneys general also argue that this policy will come at a substantial cost to taxpayers. In 2024, immigration detention cost U.S. taxpayers $3.4 billion – roughly $152 per detainee per day. By contrast, DHS’s own Alternatives to Detention program costs less than $4.20 per day and is equally effective in ensuring court appearances. Raoul and the attorneys general argue that DHS’s shift away from these cost-effective alternatives wastes taxpayer dollars while delivering no added benefit. 

The brief also emphasizes that indefinite detention severely limits detainees’ ability to access legal representation, particularly when they are transferred to remote facilities far from their families and attorneys. This drastically reduces their chances of obtaining legal relief, even when they are eligible to remain in the country. In addition to being inhumane, denying individuals the opportunity for a bond hearing contradicts longstanding legal precedent and fundamental due process protections. Raoul and the coalition emphasize that individualized assessments are standard in both civil and criminal proceedings, and immigrants should not be treated differently simply because of their status. 

The attorneys general are urging the court to grant partial summary judgment for the plaintiffs and strike down DHS’s unlawful policy. 

Joining Attorney General Raoul in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.