Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says his office is cracking down on federal agents using rental cars with swapped or altered license plates during large-scale deportation operations in the state.
The office found in an investigation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents switched plates on a rented vehicle in Illinois, according to a press release. The office subsequently revoked the vehicle’s license plate, the release stated.
“The message is simple,” Giannoulias said in a video statement. “If a vehicle is registered in Illinois, it must follow Illinois law regardless of whether you are Homeland Security or a rental car company. This is about public safety, transparency, and accountability. So, if you see vehicles with missing, masked or mismatched plates, report it to our new plate watch hotline.”
Giannoulias sent a letter to 19 rental car companies which reminded those companies that swapping or altering license plates is illegal, and the companies can be held liable if their vehicles are used in this manner.
He also sent a cease and desist letter to the Department of Homeland Security. The letter stated all vehicles registered in Illinois, regardless of who is driving, must comply with state law.
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“Illinois Secretary of State demands that your agency, or any agency assisting your agency, cease and desist from swapping license plates on Illinois registered vehicles in violation of Illinois law,” wrote Robert Gamrath, the office’s general counsel, in the letter to ICE Director Todd Lyons.
The DHS stated to NBC News which said the agency attempts to follow state law unless it may affect a federal operation.
“Our operators comply with federal law and, consistent with the Supremacy Clause, endeavor to comply with state law except where doing so could compromise or interfere with the federal mission and operations,” the DHS wrote.
In October, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office launched a plate watch hotline for the public to report vehicles with missing, masked or mismatched plates. To make a report, call the hotline at 312-814-1730 or email [email protected].
“Together, we’re making it very clear when it comes to protecting our communities, no one is above the law,” Giannoulias said in the video.
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown — which it said is targeting “the worst of the worst” — has led to thousands of arrests in Chicago and other major U.S. cities. But most arrested so far, including in Chicago, had no criminal record, and only a small percentage had violent criminal records, The New York Times reported.
Urbana Mayor Deshawn Williams announced on Nov. 4 that federal agents conducted operations in the city in preceding weeks, but did not report any large-scale deportation operations. ICE previously arrested two men who were facing felony charges at the Champaign County Courthouse in April.
