(Reuters) - The U.S. government sued Illinois and the city of Chicago on Thursday, accusing them of impeding the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.

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

The suit asserts that sanctuary laws in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois have obstructed federal efforts to enforce immigration policy.

The lawsuit is the latest indication that the Trump administration, which is attempting to strip self-proclaimed sanctuary cities of all federal funding, will target Chicago directly.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois participated in one court battle with the Trump administration Thursday when a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of an executive order that sought to end “birthright citizenship” under the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit comes as Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month.

Federal officials are asking a judge to bar the Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and the Cook County Sheriff from using local laws that protect migrants to hamper law enforcement.

It appears to be the first Justice Dept. lawsuit against local officials for allegedly interfering with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The Trump administration sued officials in Illinois, Chicago and Cook County on Thursday over policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities, accusing them of obstructing its immigration crackdown.

Trump administration officials are suing Illinois and top state officials, hoping to force them to turn over suspected illegal immigrants rather than releasing them from jails and state prisons. The lawsuit filed Thursday is among the most recent efforts by Trump officials to push liberal-led states,