Group behind tariff challenge calls Pritzker’s refund check demand irrational

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – As over $86 billion has begun making its way back to small businesses impacted by tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is still demanding refund checks for Illinois families.

Sara Albrecht, chairman and CEO of the Liberty Justice Center, told The Center Square about the status of refunds headed back to businesses who paid tariffs imposed by Trump.

The Liberty Justice Center sued the federal government alongside small businesses, arguing Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were illegally imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The group won their lawsuit Feb 20.

She commended Customs and Border Patrol for the rollout of the tariff refund application process.

“Last year, CBP processed 338,000 entries for refund. You know, refunding tariffs is always something CBP does, just never on this scale. So this year, the IEEPA tariffs are going to require processing 53 million entries,” Albrecht said.

In a podcast appearance last week, Pritzker doubled down on his demand for $1,700 “tariff refund checks” to be sent to Illinois families.

Donald Trump owes the families of Illinois $1,700 a piece because he overcharged them with his self-imposed tariffs. pic.twitter.com/rfuO2crPyi— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) July 20, 2026

“It has made life more expensive, about $1,700 per family. Oh, by the way, the Supreme Court has ruled that it was unconstitutional – the imposition of those tariffs. He still hasn’t paid people back,” Pritzker said.

Albrecht explained that Pritzker’s call isn’t sensible when considering the granular details of how tariffs work.

“Every business treated those tariffs differently. Some passed on the cost, some did not,” Albrecht said. “But there’s also what everybody’s kind of missing, this opportunity cost which is not easily measured. So you passed on the tariffs, but you probably lost business because people didn’t want to pay the higher prices.”

She also noted that it was an oversight by Pritzker to not stand with small businesses.

“I think it’s a political move by Governor Pritzker and I’m disappointed that he’s missing the entire point of these refunds and the fact that he didn’t stand up for small businesses,” Albrecht said. “The people that have filed these like class actions against companies, they’re never going to see any money. Those are going to take five, six, seven years. The only people making money off of that are the plaintiff attorneys.”

The Liberty Justice Center is also actively fighting tariffs that were imposed under a different method, bypassing the Supreme Court’s February ruling.

Those tariffs were enacted under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, allowing the president to impose temporary tariffs in response to payment balance concerns and to protect the value of the U.S. Dollar.

Albrecht said even though the tariffs expire Friday, the organization still plans to fight the government over perceived damages caused by the temporary charges.

“So even though the tariffs stop on July 24th, our case will continue because damages are still there,” Albrecht said. “We still need to resolve [the question] ‘Are these tariffs legal or not?’”

Briefs in the case are expected to be filed by the government this week, and in the next month by the Liberty Justice Center.