A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on February 18, 2025. The request, made by a news reporter from East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for specific documents related to inmates with Immigration Detainers.
The requested records include documents showing persons committed to the facility that have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
Also included in the request are any communications from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding civil enforcement that fall under the purview of the TRUST Act and/or the Illinois VOICES Act. Additionally, any Immigration Detainers received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that are reportable under these same acts were also requested.
As members of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization assisting news media companies in investigating state and federal governmental agencies, we believe access to public records is essential for holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information, we consider ourselves eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. For more information about our work, please visit https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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