Cook County, Illinois, appears to be in open rebellion against federal authority. After a federal judge blatantly overstepped by ruling that the president couldn’t deploy Illinois National Guard troops to defend federal property, local officials and activists have followed suit—emboldened by what looks like a coordinated act of defiance against the rule of law.
The first act of defiance came when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was blocked from entering Broadview City Hall. Adding insult to injury, Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills announced he would have ICE-installed fencing and barricades torn down — claiming, absurdly, that they were put up “without permits.” It was a clear warning shot that local officials were ready to side with the resistance rather than federal law enforcement.
And now, Biden-appointed Judge LaShonda Hunt has ordered the removal of protective barriers around the Broadview ICE facility — a decision that looks less like justice and more like provocation. The move serves no public safety purpose and instead seems designed to inflame tensions and risk violence, potentially creating new “martyrs” for the left.
Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino confirmed that the fences were taken down just before midnight on Tuesday:
“We kept that fence up as long as we could—Up until the very last hour last night, that’s how important that fence was to us…” The fencing around the Broadview ICE facility was ordered removed by a judge—And @CMDROpAtLargeCA says while it won’t deter them from protecting the… pic.twitter.com/0plflWYw1P
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) October 15, 2025
This is one of those rare moments where I part ways with the Trump administration’s “comply with every court order” approach. Some rulings are so blatantly political and dangerous that they don’t deserve obedience — and this was one of them. The proper response should’ve been simple: Molon labe.
This ruling wasn’t about justice; it was about scoring points against the administration, even if it meant putting both law enforcement and protesters in greater danger.
And as if on cue, the moment the last sections of fencing hit the pavement, a Cook County judge — yes, a Cook County judge — issued an order banning ICE agents from making immigration arrests anywhere near courthouses, including inside the buildings, at their entrances, on the sidewalks, and even in the parking lots:
Cook County’s top judge has signed an order barring ICE from arresting people at courthouses. Cook County includes Chicago, which has seen a federal immigration crackdown in recent months.
Detaining residents outside court has been a common tactic for federal agents, who have been stationed outside county courthouses for weeks, making arrests and drawing crowds of protesters.
The order, which was signed Tuesday night and took effect Wednesday, bars the civil arrest of any “party, witness, or potential witness” while going to court proceedings. It includes arrests made inside courthouses and in parking lots, surrounding sidewalks and entryways.
“The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest,” the order states.
How is that even being taken seriously? The Supreme Court – THE highest court in the land – has repeatedly held that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. No state or local judge has one scintilla of authority to prevent ICE or Border Patrol from carrying out their duties anywhere on U.S. soil.
And let’s be honest — I have no idea how this order even passes the laugh test under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Federal law trumps state and local law, period. This judge has zero authority to block federal immigration enforcement, and he knows it.
What’s really going on here is obvious: he’s daring ICE to ignore his ridiculous order so he can play the victim, hold a press conference, and rant about “muh democracy” while pretending he’s standing up to tyranny.
I’m starting to wonder if the Trump administration’s “play it by the book” approach with the courts is sustainable. As I’ve said before, federal judges are openly defying Supreme Court rulings because there are no real consequences for doing so.
Yes, the Ninth Circuit blocked Gavin Newsom’s attempt to stop deployment of the California National Guard — a major win for Trump. But just days later, an Oregon judge flat-out ignored that precedent and blocked the federalization of Oregon Guardsmen. And now, Hunt’s ruling on the Broadview fence is another textbook case of “decide the outcome first, find a justification later.”
If judges are going to behave like partisan operatives instead of neutral arbiters, then it’s time to stop treating them like anything other than political actors — and deal with them accordingly.
At some point, the Trump administration needs to stop pretending that every ruling from a district judge deserves the same deference as a higher court. These one-off rulings might look “cute,” but everyone knows the process has become hopelessly partisan and corrupt. The administration should make it clear that it’s taking its cues only from the Circuit Courts and the Supreme Court.
