Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker says the state follows the law. President Donald Trump has often singled out Chicago and Illinois, which have some of the strongest sanctuary laws in the U.S.

Chicago’s path to being a sanctuary city began more than 40 years ago. Here’s a look back at the leaders and laws that have shaped Chicago’s involvement with the sanctuary movement. July 18, 1982: Church congregation begins taking in refugees The Wellington Avenue Church congregation votes to join the sanctuary movement — becoming just the second church in the U.

The Trump administration stepped up its legal fight over the president’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants by suing Illinois and Chicago, claiming their “sanctuary” policies prevent local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.