Chicago Landlord Fined $80K for Threatening Tenants with ICE.
A Chicago landlord has been fined $80,000 after threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a couple renting an apartment from him in 2020. The couple filed a lawsuit under the Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, which was designed to protect tenants from discrimination based on their immigration status.
Threat to Call ICE Led to Lawsuit
The couple, who had rented a basement apartment from Marco Antonio Contreras and his wife since 2017, found themselves in a confrontation with the landlord on June 30, 2020. During this altercation, Contreras demanded the rent for the upcoming month, and the situation escalated when he threatened to report the couple to immigration authorities.
This incident led the couple to take legal action. They sued Contreras under the Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, a law enacted to protect tenants from being harassed or evicted based on their immigration status.
Court Orders $80K in Damages
On February 19, 2025, an Illinois Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the tenants, ordering Contreras to pay $80,000 in damages for violating the tenant protection law. The judgment also included covering the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with the lawsuit.
Additionally, the judge awarded the tenants a smaller sum in compensation for the wrongful denial of access to their belongings.
This case marked the first time the Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act had been used in a legal ruling since its passage in 2019.
The Law Protects Immigrant Tenants
The Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act was created to protect renters from discrimination or harassment based on their immigration status. It explicitly prohibits landlords from threatening to call ICE or attempting to evict or harass tenants because of their immigration status.
Illinois was the second state in the U.S. to pass such legislation, offering important protections for immigrant communities and preventing exploitation by unscrupulous landlords.
The Couple’s Statement
The couple, who has chosen not to reveal their names publicly, shared their feelings about the case in a statement:
“We decided not to stay silent because our landlords threatened us with calling immigration, and we do not believe that anyone has a right to threaten us,” they said. “No one should feel or act superior to others. We are all equals and deserve respect. Just because someone is your landlord does not mean that they get to do whatever they want to you.”
A Landmark Case for Immigrant Rights
The ruling highlights the ongoing challenges faced by immigrant communities and underscores the importance of legal protections for tenants, especially those at risk of being targeted because of their immigration status.
The case also emphasizes the need for tenants to assert their rights when faced with unlawful threats and harassment from landlords. This decision may serve as an important legal precedent for future cases of its kind.
Wider Implications for Tenant Rights
This case is part of a broader push for stronger tenant rights and protections, especially in states like Illinois, which continue to lead the charge in offering legal safeguards for immigrants. For tenants experiencing similar challenges, the ruling shows that they do not need to face these situations in silence.
The Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act remains a critical tool in ensuring that all renters, regardless of their immigration status, are treated with dignity and respect.