The Justice Department sued the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago on Thursday, seeking to block state and local protections for undocumented immigrants that the Trump administration says are impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts.

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,

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who did not immediately respond to request for comment, has defended the city's sanctuary laws. He and other mayors plan to testify next month at a

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