A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Monroe County Illinois Sheriff's office on January 29, 2025. The request, made by SW Illinois News, seeks documents and records related to persons committed to county jails who have had an Immigration Detainer issued against them by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency since January 29, 2024.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at SW Illinois News believe that access to public records is crucial for our work. It enables us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public.
The requested information will shed light on the number of individuals held in Monroe County jails who are also under scrutiny from immigration authorities. This data is vital for understanding the intersection of local law enforcement and federal immigration policies in our community.
In our request, we emphasized our role as a media outlet in disseminating information to the public and asked for a fee waiver typically granted to media professionals.
We await a response from the Monroe County Illinois Sheriff's office and will continue our efforts to provide thorough coverage of this important issue.
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