A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the McDonough County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on January 29, 2025. The request, issued by West Central Reporter, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought records of persons committed to county jails who have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
As members of the media at West Central Reporter, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we requested a fee waiver as media professionals.
The FOIA request underlines our commitment to ensure transparency in local government operations and hold public institutions accountable for their actions. We will continue to use all tools available, including FOIA requests, to gather and report accurate news that serves the public interest.
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