CHICAGO — As part of a sweeping civil rights package responding to recent federal actions in immigrant and working-class communities, a proposal spearheaded by State Senator Villanueva to protect the right of all Illinois residents to safely access courthouses without fear of harassment, detention or intimidation has become law.

“Courthouses are meant to serve as pillars of justice, not places of fear,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “In my district and across Chicago, families, survivors of violence, and immigrant residents have been skipping court dates out of fear that showing up could put them in danger. That is not justice. By enacting this law, Illinois is making it clear that no one should be intimidated out of exercising their rights.”

House Bill 1312, among other things, establishes Courthouse Safe Zones to ensure individuals can participate in judicial proceedings without risk of civil arrest. The law designates a 1,000-foot perimeter around courthouses—including parking areas and surrounding streets—as protected areas. It also sets clear penalties for violations, including civil damages, statutory fines of $10,000 and potential contempt of court charges.

The law follows years of advocacy from community organizations, attorneys and legal aid groups who reported that individuals, particularly immigrants and survivors of violence, often avoided court appearances due to fear of being targeted by federal agents.

In the Chicago area, recent operations by federal enforcement agencies have heightened these concerns, prompting courts and advocates to raise alarms that access to justice is being undermined by the threat of detention. By creating explicit safe zones and establishing legal recourse when rights are suppressed, this measure ensures that Illinois takes proactive steps to protect equal participation in our legal system.

“This law is about restoring trust in a system that has felt unsafe for far too many of my neighbors,” Villanueva said. “When federal actions in our communities create fear, our job as state leaders is to respond with protections rooted in dignity and fairness. No one should have to choose between their safety and their day in court — and under this law, they won’t.”

House Bill 1312 was signed into law Tuesday and takes effect immediately.