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* First, some background…
The [Quincy Police Department] says that, under state law, they would not help a federal agency with a civil immigration matter.
“If they were simply wanting to go somewhere to try serve an administrative detainer or take someone under custody purely on administrative action, then we would not participate in that,” said [Quincy Chief of Police Adam Yates].
But the [Adams County] sheriff’s office has already worked with ICE, handed over illegal immigrants, and said they will continue to do so. […]
“I have no intentions of turning away ICE agents or any of them, homeland security agents, any of them that encounter illegal aliens in our community. I know that we’ve had few, and we’ve put a few in jail, and they’ve since been transported out of here by ICE,” said [Adams County Sheriff Tony Grootens]. […]
Illinois may be a sanctuary state, but according to Grootens, Adams County is not.
“It doesn’t really mean anything for Adams County, cause we’re going to continue to house illegal immigrants as they are picked up because they are still in violation of federal law…Being a sanctuary state, they’re going to seek refuge, protection from the state, but not here,” said Grootens.
We have been trying without success to get a comment from Attorney General Kwame Raoul since July 18. WTTW was also unable to extract something from him.
* So, Isabel pressed Raoul about it today…
Isabel: Adams County Sheriff Tony Grootens has publicly said he won’t comply with Illinois’ immigration enforcement laws and will continue working with ICE. [Raoul interjected here but the question would have continued: What authority does your office have to address a sheriff openly refusing to follow state law, and do you intend to take any action in this case?]
AG Raoul: I don’t have a comment on that right now. Thank you.
Isabel followed up. His response: “No comment on that right now. Thank you.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:25 pm
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If there’s possible litigation or investigation, the least the AG could do is “we don’t comment on pending investigations. We take our responsibility to enforce the TRUST Act and all state laws seriously.” I just can’t imagine what immigrant communities are taking away from this lack of leadership.
Comment by In the Weeds Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:44 pm
=== “No comment on that right now. Thank you.” ===
If I were the Adams County Sheriff this type of response would be raising more concerns than something that would resemble political saber rattling.
Willfully and intentionally refusing to follow a law can pose problems for a public official even if those problems aren’t specifically spelled out in the statute. Researching and weighing the options to address that willful and intentional act of lawlessness is a prudent course of action.
I am certain his office will come up with something that’s better than an off the cuff remark.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 4:52 pm
The Adams County Sheriff does not care about Constitutional rights. Those things just get in the way of Constitutional Sheriffs and their movement as supreme arbiters of constitutional rights. /s
Comment by H-W Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:07 pm
“I don’t have a comment on that right now”
The fact that he didn’t put out a word salad is a reassurance that he has something in the works. But honestly, with all of this Trump chaos happening I wish the AG was more vocal and forceful about issues publicly. I’m also worried about this being addressed at a snails pace…
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:10 pm
=Illinois may be a sanctuary state, but according to Grootens, Adams County is not.=
That really, at least for me, isn’t the most important aspect of what he is doing. The Adams county sheriff is not in charge of enforcing immigration law. So if he is arresting people for being here illegally, he really does not have that legal authority since county courts don’t enforce federal law. Violating the state law is also an issue, don’t get me wrong. You cannot be Mr. Law and Order without following the law, all of them.
The whole sanctuary thing is another discussion, I don’t think saying that Illinois is a sanctuary for something illegal is a great narrative. I understand and appreciate the humanitarian motivation behind it though. I understand that more so than sending a paramilitary force of army man wannabes after day laborers at home depot, that is for sure.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:14 pm
===I don’t think saying that Illinois is a sanctuary for something illegal is a great narrative.===
That’s literally what the concept of sanctuary is and has been practiced by people since before there were Christian altars to seek sanctuary at and as a legal practice was codified at many different times.
Federalism and the difference between civil and criminal law water down the concept of sanctuary we’re using, but like, even the term in this context is decades old.
Is it illegal to overstay a visa? Sure. But it is a civil violation, not a felony. It is very uncommon for us to go about arresting people for parking tickets and the States literally have no constitutional authority to enforce immigration.
So, I ask — what felony have these folks who the Adams County Sheriff is turning over to the feds committed?
What legal authority does he have to engage in the activities he is doing?
The feds issuing criminal warrants?
You can frame it how you want to frame it, but I suspect it can also be framed as Tony Grootens is abusing his power to destroy families and deprive non-white people of their rights and due to his lack of legal authority to do this is also exposing the people of Adams County legal liability due to his illegal acts.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:41 pm
=== The whole sanctuary thing is another discussion, I don’t think saying that Illinois is a sanctuary for something illegal is a great narrative.===
There is actually no such thing as a sanctuary state. That is a misnomer. The Trust Act spells out what Illinois officials can do and what they can’t do. ICE can always detain a person, it’s just Illinois police can’t assist them. There’s no actual “sanctuary.”
Comment by Da big bad wolf Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 5:49 pm