President Donald Trump’s administration went to court Thursday to challenge sanctuary policies in the state of Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago that limit the powers of state and local police to assist federal law enforcement on immigration-related matters.

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

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