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Residents urge McLean County Board to investigate ICE activity outside courthouses and reaffirm Illinois Trust Act protections
Summary
Multiple residents and students urged the county board to seek documentation of sheriff's office cooperation with ICE, to audit I‑247 detainers, and to reaffirm protections in the Illinois Trust Act to preserve access to courts for immigrant residents.
A series of public commenters at the McLean County Board meeting pressed elected officials to investigate and restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity near local courthouses, saying the presence of agents is deterring community members from accessing courts and services.
Community members and university students urged the board to ask the sheriff's office and the Justice Committee to review interagency collaborations with ICE, to release records of jail holds and Form I‑247 detainers, and to reaffirm compliance with the Illinois Trust Act.
"This presence directly threatens the accessibility of the immigrant community to due process," said Giselle Ortiz, a McLean County resident and volunteer with the Immigration Project, citing national reports that ICE activity at courthouses deters court attendance.
Several commenters referenced the Illinois Trust Act. Juliet Lind, speaking for Illinois State University’s CAUSA group, quoted the statute and asked the board to "reaffirm support for the Illinois Trust Act, which states that, 'unless presented with a criminal arrest warrant or otherwise required by federal law, a law enforcement agency or official may not participate, support, or assist in any capacity with an immigration agent's enforcement operations, including any collateral assistance such as coordinating arrest in a courthouse or other public facility.'" Lind urged the board to request the sheriff's office produce documentation of any collaboration with ICE and to audit all current and past jail holds and detainers.
Speakers described community fear following visible ICE activity outside courts. Araya Matich and others said families have been terrified to leave home or attend school; several urged the board to prioritize funding for local health, education and family support services rather than enforcement. Student speakers described children staying home from school and families avoiding court appearances out of fear of detention.
What the board did and did not do The public comment segment of the meeting generated repeated requests for an audit and for an explicit affirmation of the county’s adherence to the Illinois Trust Act. The transcript records no motion or formal board action in response to those requests during the meeting; requests were framed as appeals to the sheriff's office, the Justice Committee and to the full board to initiate reviews or audits.
Ending Speakers concluded by asking the county board to use its oversight authority to request records and to publicly confirm that local law‑enforcement cooperation with ICE will be limited to what state law requires. The meeting record shows no formal directive or vote on that request during this session.
