The Lake County state’s attorney issued a statement saying that his office will not work with the federal government for immigration enforcement without a warrant following reports of ICE activity in Lake County.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement that his office is “dedicated to serving all residents of Lake County” and upholding justice for every victim regardless of immigration status.
“It is imperative that victims and witnesses feel safe to report crimes so that perpetrators don’t go unpunished. We won’t have safe and healthy communities if people are afraid to contact the police or cooperate with the prosecutor’s office,” Rinehart said.
The county’s top prosecutor’s comments come in response to recent reports of immigration enforcement occurring in Lake County.
Rinehart said he wants to assure all Lake County residents that their “safety and well-being remain a top priority.”
The state’s attorney’s office said it is a county office independent from the federal government and is required to follow both state and federal law.
The Illinois TRUST Act, signed by then-Governor Bruce Rauner in 2017, remains in effect and, for the most part, prohibits local entities in the state from participating in immigration enforcement.
The state’s attorney’s office said they will never ask about immigration status, will not require immigration status documentation and will not keep records of immigration status.
They also said they have created a process to protect immigrants victimized by violent crime by proactively providing information, connecting them to legal civil resources and reviewing all certification requests in a timely manner as required by the VOICES ACT.
The state’s attorney’s office said they keep victim information, including legal status, confidential and will not share it with federal immigration agents or assist in civil immigration law unless presented with a criminal warrant or when “otherwise required by a specific federal law.”
The office also said they will prosecute any notario or person who defrauds immigrants by pretending to be an immigration expert.
“The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting EVERY victim throughout the criminal legal process and providing a safe and supportive environment for ALL,” the statement said.