From McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman:

Sheriff’s Statement on Aiding Federal Agencies

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and the safety of all residents in our community.

However, the Illinois Trust Act, which was originally signed into law in 2017, and then modified in 2021 creating significant hurdles for local law enforcement agencies to work effectively with federal partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This legislation prohibits local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainers or taking action on an individual’s immigration status without a judicial warrant.

These restrictions hinder our ability to assist in removing dangerous criminals from our neighborhoods, creating unnecessary barriers to ensuring public safety.

Our office strongly believes that the first duty of government is to protect its people.

To accomplish this, local and federal law enforcement must be able to collaborate without the constraints of politically motivated policies.

The Illinois Trust Act places undue limitations on our efforts, compromising the safety and security of the very communities we are sworn to protect.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office will cooperate with ICE in cases where a judge has issued a criminal warrant and will continue its official duties in investigating violations of criminal law and cooperating in such investigations with federal and other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety and maintaining the trust of our community.

We will continue to maintain public safety and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of our residents. It is our hope that lawmakers will revisit the Illinois Trust Act and work toward commonsense solutions that enable law enforcement to focus on protecting law-abiding citizens  

Public safety is not a partisan issue—it is a shared responsibility. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to serve and protect the people of McHenry County.