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Cook County public defender Cruz Rodriguez sits at his desk in front of his computer. A gavel and degrees sit on the shelves behind him.Camilla Forte/Borderless Magazine/Catchlight Local/Report for America
Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It. Enforcement and CourtsFeaturedImmigration Policy

Cook County Public Defenders Built an Immigration Unit Five Years Ago. The Last Year Tested It.

The Cook County public defender's office had already laid the groundwork to represent individuals in immigration cases, but an increase in detention under the Trump administration last year forced them to adjust.
April 24, 2026