FOIA Request to Lee County Sheriff's Department Regarding Inmate Immigration Detainers on February 18, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Illinois News have submitted a request for records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Our request is specifically focused on documents and/or records showing persons committed to the Lee County Sheriff's Department facility that have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
In addition, we are seeking information about requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding civil enforcement. These are reportable under the TRUST Act, as codified at 5 ILCS 805/1, et seq., and/or the Illinois VOICES Act, as codified at 5 ILCS 825/1, et seq.
We have also requested access to Immigration Detainers received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which are reportable under these same acts.
Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As members of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting news media companies in investigating state and federal governmental agencies, we leverage Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to pull back the curtain on government actions and help inform the American electorate.
For more information about our work, please visit https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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