Illinois' Cook County moves to prohibit ICE operations on county-owned property

Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune on Oct 16, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

CHICAGO — Cook County barred the use of county-owned buildings, parking lots, garages and vacant lots for civil immigration enforcement activities, implementing similar measures enacted in Chicago and most recently neighboring Lake County.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle signed an executive order Thursday that will prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using county-owned property, resources and personnel for operations, the county announced in a news release.

Last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order establishing “ICE-free zones” at Chicago city property and “unwilling” private businesses. Since, others have moved to follow suit.

The Evanston City Council on Monday unanimously agreed to a resolution that prohibits the use of city property for federal immigration enforcement operations. A day later, the Lake County Board passed a similar resolution.

After federal immigration enforcement activity surged in Carpentersville and neighboring Elgin on Wednesday — with federal agents spotted across the area, including outside Carpentersville Village Hall — village officials said they will look at doing something similar.

“ICE’s increasingly aggressive, inhumane and unlawful actions continue undermining the safety and stability of our communities,” Preckwinkle said in a statement. “We will do everything we can to ensure all residents receive fair treatment and our communities are safe from harassment and intimidation.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on social media earlier this week that “Operation Midway Blitz” — President Donald Trump’s local mass deportation push — has resulted in more than 1,500 arrests across the state.

Preckwinkle’s order comes a day after Chief Judge Timothy Evans enacted a general order prohibiting warrantless arrests by immigration agents in or around county courthouses.

Last month, immigration agents arrested at least two people in the vicinity of the county’s domestic violence-focused courthouse, sparking fears that the enforcement action would have a chilling effect on people seeking orders of protection and other forms of help at the courthouse.

In turn, county commissioners called on other county officeholders to help sound the alarm if federal immigration agents turn up at county courthouses and other public facilities.

“Cook County’s strength lies in its diversity,” Preckwinkle stated. “We will continue to stand with our immigrant communities and protect them from policies that instill fear rather than promote fairness and justice.”

_____

(Chicago Tribune’s A.D. Quig and Madeline Buckley contributed.)

_____