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Emigration and immigration

Illinois Counties and Cities Listed as "Sanctuary Jurisdictions" by Department of Homeland Security

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

President Donald Trump's executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to create a list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" that have restrictions against local law enforcement officers cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in 29 counties in Illinois being listed. These counties, including Morgan and surrounding counties, have been put on notice by the federal agency, which will give them formal notification if they are determined not to be complying with the Trump administration's immigration policies. This move has sparked controversy, with Governor JB Pritzker stating that he will protect immigrants in Illinois, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has criticized the state's policies.

Key Takeaways:

  • 29 counties in Illinois have been listed as "sanctuary jurisdictions" by the Department of Homeland Security, including Morgan and surrounding counties.
  • The list was created based on President Trump's executive order, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to identify jurisdictions that have restrictions against local law enforcement officers cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  • The Illinois Trust Act, signed into law in 2017, limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement officers can assist in federal immigration enforcement activities and prohibits detaining someone based on an immigration detainer or non-judicial warrant.
  • Governor JB Pritzker has stated that he will protect immigrants in Illinois, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has criticized the state's policies, calling them a "lawless insurrection against the supremacy of federal law."
  • The Department of Homeland Security will give formal notification to the listed counties if they are determined not to be complying with the Trump administration's immigration policies, which could result in legal action and loss of federal funds.
  • The list includes seven Illinois cities: Berwyn City, Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park Village, Skokie, St. Joseph, and Urbana.
  • None of the counties in west-central Illinois has an individual sanctuary policy, but they have been included on the list because they self-identify as state sanctuary jurisdictions.

Statistics:

  • 29 counties in Illinois have been listed as "sanctuary jurisdictions" by the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Morgan and surrounding counties are among the listed jurisdictions.
  • The Illinois Trust Act has been in place since 2017.
  • 7 Illinois cities are specifically named on the list: Berwyn City, Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park Village, Skokie, St. Joseph, and Urbana.
  • 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement agencies to assume some immigration enforcement duties, are in place in Illinois, according to The Association Press.

Sources:

  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • President Donald Trump's executive order
  • The Illinois Trust Act
  • Governor JB Pritzker's statement to NBC Chicago in January
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's statement
  • The Association Press
  • The Jacksonville Journal-Courier (Jacksonville, Ill.)

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