Hundreds of jailed illegal aliens released back onto blue-state streets despite ICE detainers, records show

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Chicago-area officials released more than 400 illegal immigrants arrested on criminal charges amid the Trump administration’s 2025immigration enforcementsurge, public records obtained by a conservative legal group show.

“Cook County and the State of Illinois have turnedsanctuary policiesinto a deadly shield for criminal illegal aliens,�

“By releasing hundreds of illegal aliens despite explicit ICE detainers in just one year, sanctuary laws endangered American lives.The tragic murder of Sheridan Gorman is the predictable outcome of pro-illegal alien madness that has infiltrated the Blue States,” he added.

Illinois law generallybars state and local lawenforcement from honoring ICE detainers or transferring people to immigration authorities unless presented with a federal criminal warrant.Sanctuary policies like those in Illinois have become a political flash point, drawing the ire of the Trump administration as it accuses Democratic governors of imperiling community safety by failing to hand over illegal immigrants.

ICE WARNS ILLINOIS IS RELEASING VIOLENT CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS DESPITE DETAINERS, RISKING PUBLIC SAFETY

Gov. JB Pritzker answering questions at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield

Gov.JB Pritzker takes questions at the Illinois Capitol during the legislative session in Springfield, Ill., on Oct.30, 2025.(John J.Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)

“The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers,�“Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes.”

America First Legal’s data, which was obtained through a public records request, covers January to December 2025.

Though Cook County released most of the illegal immigrants federal authorities wanted to apprehend, records show that the county transferred 86 jailed illegal immigrants to federal custody in 2025.

The DHS spokesperson noted that some of the illegal immigrants held in jails may have committed serious crimes in their home countries that don’t appear in American records.

Controversy surrounding how Illinois handles illegal immigrants arrested by local law enforcement came to a head in March when Jose Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedlyshot and killedSheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old college student in Chicago.

Medina-Medina was previously arrested in Illinois on charges of shoplifting in 2023 and was released rather than deported, which conservatives have pointed to while criticizing the state’s approach to immigration enforcement.

President Donald Trump blamed Illinois’ sanctuary policies for the death, while Democratic Gov.J.B.Pritzker accused the president of “politicizing” the killing and called on his administration to provide more public safety funding.

Sheridan Gorman smiling with Chicago skyline in background

Sheridan Gorman smiles with the Chicago skyline in Illinois in the background.(Sheridan G.Gorman/Instagram)

ILLINOIS GOV PRITZKER ADMITS ‘REAL FAILURES’ AS SLAIN CHICAGO STUDENT’S HOMETOWN PAYS TRIBUTE IN LIGHTS

Illegal immigrants are far less likely to be convicted of crimes than native-born Americans, data compiled by the libertarianCato Institutehas found.Democrats cite similar findings to counter the Trump administration’s claim that illegal immigrants are dangerous.Illegal immigrants detained in connection with suspected crimes, however, may pose a greater risk than the broader population of illegal immigrants.

The DHS spokesperson claimed that “nearly 70% of ICE arrests” involve illegal immigrants charged or convicted of a crime in the United States.

Pritzker, a vocal opponent of federal deportation efforts, signed theIllinois Way Forward Actin 2021.The legislation prohibits local law enforcement agencies from signing immigration enforcement contracts with the federal government and limits their ability to investigate the immigration status of individuals detained on suspicion of crimes.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker attending a Veterans Day ceremony in Chicago

Illinois Gov.JB Pritzker attends a Veterans Day ceremony in Chicago’s Little Village on Dec.12, 2023, the same day he signed the Medical Aid in Dying Act allowing eligible terminally ill adults to obtain life-ending medication after consulting their doctors.(Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu)

PRITZKER CALLS ON TRUMP OFFICIALS TO TESTIFY OVER ICE CRACKDOWN, WHITE HOUSE BLASTS MOVE AS ‘POLITICAL STUNT’

“Throughout my governorship, I’ve directed my administration to adopt policies that make Illinois a welcoming state for immigrants, and I’m proud to sign these accountability measures into law to advance our cause,” Pritzker said at the time.“Every family, every child, every human being deserves to feel safe and secure in the place they call home.I am committed to making sure that value defines what it means to live in Illinois.”

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The Trump administration hasthreatenedto withhold funding from jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement operations, including Chicago.