A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Edwards County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on January 29, 2025. The request was made by SE Illinois News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for documents and/or records showing persons committed to the county jails that have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
As a media organization, we at SE Illinois News are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We look forward to receiving these important records from the Edwards County Sheriff's Office as they will help shed light on how immigration detainers are being used within our local jail system.
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