A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Grundy County Sheriff's office on January 29, 2025. The request, made by us at Peoria Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, sought records related to immigration detainers issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
Specifically, we requested documents and/or records showing persons committed to county jails under the jurisdiction of the Grundy County Sheriff who have had an Immigration Detainer lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
As a media organization, our role involves gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is crucial for us in fulfilling our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe that as media professionals disseminating information to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We await a response from the Grundy County Sheriff's office regarding this request.