How to report ICE and CBP abuses in Illinois
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Brandon Bell and Scott Olson/Getty Images
Local officials have limited power to protect Illinoisans from potentially illegal actions by federal immigration agents, due to the federal supremacy clause, but mechanisms for recourse are growing.
The big picture: Lawsuits by news organizations, the National Immigrant Justice Center and ACLU Illinois are driving orders to reform practices, release detainees and clean up the Broadview ICE facility.
The latest: A judge toured the Broadview ICE facility on Thursday to assess compliance with a court order to clean it and provide detainees with bedding, showers, medicine and access to lawyers.
- While Department of Homeland Security officials have denied to Axios that Customs and Border Protection commander-at-large Greg Bovino is leaving Chicago, he has not been spotted in town for the past four days. Still, DHS says operations will continue here.
Zoom in: Here are five ways to report agent violations.
- Warrantless searches and arrests can be reported to the National Immigrant Justice Center, which recently secured the release of 13 detainees and the consideration of 615 more, hundreds of whom could be released next week.
- Violations of a temporary restraining order against body slamming, use of tear gas without warning and failure to show IDs during raids can be reported to the attorneys and news organizations that filed the suit that triggered the TRO.
- Unlawful swapping or removal of license plates by federal agents can be reported to the Secretary of State's Office at [email protected] or 312-814-1730.
- Violations of the Trust Act and Welcoming City ordinance, including the use of city property to stage immigration operations in Chicago, can be reported to the City Council Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights here.
- Aurora and Evanston have enacted similar laws against using city property for staging and arrests.
Immigration raids in Evanston can be reported to Evanston police through 911 or the non-emergency line, 847-866-5000. EPD will send a supervisor to gather IDs of federal agents and inquire about the aim of the operation.
- Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss tells Axios that his police have already collected agent IDs, "which is a first step toward holding these violent lawless thugs accountable."
Between the lines: While sending documentation to city and state officials could aid future investigations, officials admit those likely won't happen unless Democrats regain the U.S. House.