Illinois Police Assist ICE With Deportations Despite State Sanctuary Law

A joint investigation by Injustice Watch has revealed widespread cooperation between local Illinois law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities, despite the state’s TRUST Act designed to limit such partnerships. Records show that at least 75 agencies across Illinois shared information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the FBI in the first 15 months of the second Trump administration, resulting in the detention or deportation of at least 150 people. The findings raise concerns about the enforcement of Illinois’ sanctuary law, which Governor Bruce Rauner signed in 2017 to prevent local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement.

The investigation, based on body-worn camera footage, FOIA requests, court filings, and interviews with affected individuals and their families, highlights loopholes in the TRUST Act. While the law prohibits local agencies from transferring individuals to ICE custody without a criminal warrant or sharing information at the request of immigration agents, enforcement has been inconsistent. In one case, an FBI agent exploited a state warrant to detain Daniel Torrez Perez, who was initially stopped in Riverton for speeding. Though the immigration warrant was legally unusable, the officer arrested Perez on a DUI charge, allowing federal agents to take him into custody the next day.

The pattern of collaboration extends beyond isolated incidents. In Tinley Park, a southwest Chicago suburb, officers routinely shared sensitive information with ICE agents. Emails show detectives exchanging details about suspects, including passport photos, addresses, and work locations. In one instance, an ICE agent volunteered personnel to assist in an arrest, while in another, an officer provided a driver’s license number, home address, and employer information for a man pulled over for speeding. Days later, that individual was taken into ICE custody.

Legal experts, such as Ohio State University law professor César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, note that such collaborations often stem from routine professional relationships among law enforcement officers, particularly in smaller communities. While many interactions are technically compliant with the TRUST Act, others may circumvent its intent. The law permits exceptions, such as sharing arrest reports or volunteering immigration status, but critics argue these provisions are frequently exploited to funnel individuals into deportation proceedings.

The investigation also uncovered instances of agencies resisting public records requests. Injustice Watch has filed lawsuits against over a dozen local, state, and federal agencies to obtain additional documentation, suggesting the actual number of affected individuals can only be estimated. Though Illinois lawmakers passed the TRUST Act to shield immigrants, the findings indicate its protections are far from absolute.

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