FOIA Request to Schuyler County Sheriff's Office Regarding Inmates with ICE Detainers on February 18, 2025.
As members of the West Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we submitted a request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act for records showing persons committed to the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office facility that have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
In addition to this, we also requested information regarding any requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pertaining to civil enforcement that are reportable under the TRUST Act and/or the Illinois VOICES Act.
Further, we sought access to any Immigration Detainers received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which are reportable under these same acts. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The request was made as part of our affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit Missouri Corporation that assists news media companies, publications, and public advocacy groups investigate state and federal governmental agencies. We leverage Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to pull back the curtain on government actions and help inform the American electorate. For more information about our coalition's work, please visit https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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