A new report from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office reveals that four sheriff’s offices in Illinois defied state sanctuary laws in 2024 by transferring individuals into Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody. The Way Forward Act Annual Compliance Report for 2024, released on December 23, compiles self-reported data from law enforcement agencies regarding compliance with the Illinois TRUST Act and the Illinois Way Forward Act.
These sanctuary laws prohibit local and state law enforcement agencies from honoring civil immigration detainers, warrants, or transferring individuals into immigration custody unless presented with a federal criminal warrant or as otherwise required by federal law. Violating these provisions could expose agencies to civil liability.
Despite these restrictions, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported transferring 18 individuals into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations custody in 2024. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported three such transfers, Kane County reported two, and Grundy County reported one.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it opened an investigation into Madison County’s compliance, and noted that no individuals have been transferred to DHS custody on the basis of civil detainers or warrants since November 15, 2024. The most recent transfer cited in the report occurred in January 2025, when the Kane County Sheriff’s Office transferred an individual to ICE. Statewide, the report found that 33 agencies received a total of 1,125 civil immigration detainers and warrants in 2024, up from 523 reported by 27 agencies in 2023. However, not all of Illinois’ roughly 960 law enforcement agencies submitted compliance reports; only 824 agencies did so, making non-reporting a violation of state law.
The Attorney General’s Office has authority to investigate and seek remedies for such violations. In addition, 36 agencies reported receiving requests from federal immigration authorities related to civil enforcement. Most of these were Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, which are not prohibited under the state’s sanctuary laws.
The report also tracks compliance with the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors Act, monitoring U- and T-visa certification requests for victims of serious crimes. In 2024, Illinois law enforcement agencies received 5,484 certification requests, responded to 99% of them, and granted 84.7%.
Previous reporting in 2024 found that at least 17 sheriff’s offices in Illinois maintained contracts to detain individuals on behalf of ICE. The Attorney General’s Office responded by emphasizing that not all apparent violations are in fact violations, and stated a preference for resolving inadvertent breaches amicably rather than through adversarial means.
In August 2024, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office also transferred at least two individuals into ICE custody. The Attorney General’s Office has not responded to recent requests for updated commentary on these findings.