A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office on January 29, 2025. The request was made by Southern Illinois News, a media organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically sought documents and records showing persons committed to county jails in Johnson County who have had an Immigration Detainer issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lodged against them since January 29, 2024.
As part of our commitment at Southern Illinois News to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe that access to these records is essential for our journalistic work. We are dedicated to gathering and reporting news to the public, and access to such public records allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities more effectively.
In line with this, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional under the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. We remain committed to providing our readers with accurate information about local government affairs and holding public institutions accountable for their actions.
We await a response from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office regarding this FOIA request. As always, we will continue striving for transparency and accountability in all areas of local government.