Kane County Board Approves Limits on Use of County Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement

​The Kane County Board has approved a resolution limiting certain use of county-owned parking lots, vacant lots and garages for federal civil immigration enforcement operations. The move comes after community concerns about individuals identifying themselves as federal immigration agents using local public property for staging or processing during immigration enforcement activities.

The resolution complies with the Illinois TRUST Act, which bars local law enforcement from detaining individuals solely on civil immigration detainers or assisting in federal civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. It also aligns Kane County with state requirements under Executive Order 25-06, which created the Illinois Accountability Commission to ensure compliance with immigrant-protection laws and promote transparency.

Under the new policy, county property may not be used as staging areas, processing sites or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement. The resolution defines these terms and notes that the restriction applies only to civil and not criminal immigration actions. It also states that nothing in the policy is intended to interfere with the lawful duties of authorized federal officers or the execution of valid judicial warrants.

To ensure transparency and compliance, signage will be posted at county facilities explaining that county property cannot be used for civil immigration enforcement staging or processing.  Any County employee who becomes aware of attempted or actual  restricted use may report it through their department to the County Board Office.

The County will maintain records of any such reports, compile annual compliance summaries and provide any required information to the Illinois Accountability Commission. County departments will also cooperate with lawful oversight inquiries.

The resolution takes effect December 1.