Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is urging residents to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report immigration agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/11/14/report-immigration-abuse-illinois" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/11/14/report-immigration-abuse-illinois" target="_self">report immigration agents</a> who remove their license plates after a video appearing to show an agent with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a plateless SUV went viral." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaLTNbSCbrE/" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaLTNbSCbrE/" target="_blank">a plateless SUV went viral.</a>

<strong>Why it matters:</strong> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The announcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaNyl1Fif4T/" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaNyl1Fif4T/" target="_blank">The announcement</a> is reigniting battles between Illinois and the feds as federal immigration operations are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="quietly ramping up again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-arrests-increase-significantly-marking-turn-immigration-strategy-rcna352736" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-arrests-increase-significantly-marking-turn-immigration-strategy-rcna352736" target="_blank">quietly ramping up again</a> around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEil0Q698MA" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEil0Q698MA" target="_blank">Chicago</a> and across the nation after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Congress narrowly approved $70 billion in funding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/09/nx-s1-5851664/house-reconciliation-vote-immigration-enforcement-ice-border-patrol" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/09/nx-s1-5851664/house-reconciliation-vote-immigration-enforcement-ice-border-patrol" target="_blank">Congress narrowly approved $70 billion in funding</a> for the agency.

<strong>What they&amp;apos;re saying:</strong> &quot;Let me be absolutely clear: tampering with, removing, obscuring or operating a vehicle without the required license plates is illegal in Illinois,&quot; Giannoulias says in an Instagram post.

• &quot;That applies to everyone. No one is above the law. So if you see a vehicle with missing, altered or obscured plates, we need you to report it [at 312-814-1730 or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="[email protected]" data-vars-click-url="mailto:[email protected]" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>].&quot;

<strong>The other side:</strong> &quot;DHS is not going to confirm our vehicles and put an even larger target on our officers&apos; backs or confirm law enforcement tactics,&quot; the DHS press office wrote to Axios in response to questions about plateless vehicles.

• &quot;When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists.&quot;
• DHS officials did not respond to multiple follow-up questions asking if they specifically approve of officers driving in cars without plates.

<strong>Friction point: </strong>Some commenters on Giannoulias&apos; post claimed that federal or undercover agents aren&apos;t required to drive with license plates. But officials at the Illinois secretary of state&apos;s office say that&apos;s not true.

• &quot;There is no general exemption excluding undercover police vehicles from displaying registration or license plates. However, in order to avoid displaying &apos;municipal police&apos; plates, undercover police vehicles obtain standard passenger registration,&quot; ILSOS officials tell Axios.

<strong>What&amp;apos;s next:</strong> Immigration watchers, including former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who heads the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ICE Accountability Project," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/12/lightfoot-ice-accountability-investigations" data-vars-content-id="f1c15b65-f525-4297-8c75-533ab7346944" data-vars-headline="Giannoulias warns ICE agents to keep plates on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/12/lightfoot-ice-accountability-investigations" target="_self">ICE Accountability Project,</a> are warning that &quot;immigration enforcement activity is increasing across Chicagoland even as it becomes harder for the public to see and document,&quot; she said in a recent statement.