A Chicago landlord has been ordered to pay over $80,000 after threatening to call immigration authorities on his tenants, marking the first-ever judgment under Illinois’ Immigrant Tenant Protection Act.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022 by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), accused landlord Marco Antonio Contreras and his wife of violating the law, which prohibits landlords from harassing or discriminating against tenants based on their actual or perceived immigration status.
According to court documents, the couple had been renting a basement apartment from Contreras since 2017. However, on June 30, 2020, when the landlords came to collect rent for the next month, Contreras allegedly threatened to report the couple to federal immigration officials.
A judge ruled on February 19 that Contreras’ actions violated the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act and ordered him to pay over $80,000 in damages, along with attorneys’ fees and additional costs. The tenants were also awarded a smaller sum for being denied access to their belongings.
“Everyone has rights under the rule of law regardless of their actual or perceived immigration status,” said Susana Sandoval Vargas, MALDEF’s Midwest Regional Counsel. “This decision shows that those who choose to disregard these protections will face serious consequences. This is an important victory for all tenants in Illinois, who, like our clients, just want a safe place to call home.”
In a statement, the tenants expressed their relief and emphasized the importance of standing up against intimidation. “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. No one should feel or act superior to others. We are all equals and deserve respect.”
Illinois was the second state in the U.S. to pass legislation protecting immigrant tenants, with the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act becoming law in 2019.
