The Illinois “Squatter Bill”: What People Think It Does — and What It Really Does

Effective January 1, 2026, Illinois passed a law that many people are calling the “squatter bill.” You may have seen headlines or social media posts saying this law lets police remove squatters right away or makes it easier for landlords to evict people without going to court.

That is not true.

This law does not change the eviction process for tenants. It also does not give landlords new power to lock people out of their homes. Instead, the law clears up when law enforcement can act in cases of criminal trespass, which is different from eviction.

What People Think the Law Does

Many people believe the law:

·         Lets police remove tenants without an eviction case

·         Allows landlords to claim someone is a “squatter” to avoid court

·         Replaces the eviction process with police action

None of these are correct.

What the Law Actually Does

The law says that nothing in Illinois eviction law stops police from enforcing criminal laws, including criminal trespass. It also says eviction law does not interfere when police remove people or property only when there is a criminal trespass.

This matters because eviction and criminal trespass are not the same thing.

Eviction vs. Criminal Trespass

Eviction is a civil court process. Only a judge can order an eviction.

Criminal trespass is a crime. Police can act if there is probable cause that a crime is happening.

The Chicago Police Department has said that they do not get involved in evictions. They only respond to criminal trespass cases, and only after illegal entry is verified.

To avoid confusion, the Cook County Sheriff has set up a hotline for law enforcement to check whether an eviction order has already been enforced.

What Is Criminal Trespass?

A person commits criminal trespass if they:

·         Knowingly and without lawful authority enter or remain in a building; or

·         Enter after being told by the owner or occupant that entry is forbidden; or

·         Stay after being told by the owner or occupant to leave.

Police must have probable cause to act. Probable cause means a reasonable belief, based on all the facts and circumstances, that a crime is being committed or already happened.

Bottom Line: This law does not weaken tenant protections or speed up evictions. It simply clarifies that eviction law does not block police from responding to real criminal trespass cases—and those cases are still limited by strict legal standards.