The Justice Department accused the Democratic strongholds of unlawfully interfering with Trump's crackdown and seeking a court order blocking so-called sanctuary laws.

Federal officials are asking a judge to bar the Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and the Cook County Sheriff from using local laws that protect migrants to hamper law enforcement.

Trump administration officials are suing Illinois and top state officials, hoping to force them to turn over suspected illegal immigrants rather than releasing them from jails and state prisons. The lawsuit filed Thursday is among the most recent efforts by Trump officials to push liberal-led states,

It appears to be the first Justice Department lawsuit against local officials for allegedly interfering with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The federal lawsuit is the first by Trump's Justice Department against states or municipalities that have sanctuary city policies.