ICE threatens Cook County Sheriff with prosecution over immigration subpoenas

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has threatened Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart with criminal prosecution for witness tampering if he refuses to serve immigration subpoenas.

In letters obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, the federal agency demanded that the sheriff's office serve subpoenas to specific inmates to facilitate interviews with federal agents. ICE stated that failure to comply could result in fines and prison sentences.

Sheriff Dart's office has resisted the requests, citing state law. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office stated that Illinois law does not permit personnel to release individuals in custody to federal agents for interviews, nor are they allowed to turn individuals over upon their release for such purposes. Additionally, the office noted that of four subpoenas received in July, three were for individuals who had already been released from custody prior to the office receiving the documents.