A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Madison County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on February 18, 2025. The request was made by Chambana Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought documents and records showing persons committed to the Madison County facility that have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
Additionally, we 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.
The FOIA request also included a call for Immigration Detainers received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that are reportable under these same acts.
As members of Chambana Sun and The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, 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.
For more information about our work in leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to investigate state and federal governmental agencies, please visit https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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