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This Tuesday, kick off your morning with a report from investigative reporter Blair Paddock on Illinois State Police sharing sensitive data with ICE. Plus, more stories from WTTW News. |
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An Illinois State Police squad car is pictured in a file photo. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois) |
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Despite an Illinois law prohibiting data sharing agreements between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities, the Illinois State Police makes available the names and information of individuals who they deem to be gang members to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Illinois and its leaders have positioned the state as a protector of immigrants’ rights as the Trump administration has sent hundreds of migrants who are said to be gang members, often with limited evidence to support those claims, to a mega-prison in El Salvador.
A 2017 state law, the TRUST ACT, explicitly prohibits Illinois law enforcement agencies from entering into or maintaining agreements that would provide federal immigration authorities direct access to electronic databases. There is an exception if the agency is presented with a federal criminal warrant or if it’s otherwise required by federal law.
But according to agreements obtained by WTTW News, the Illinois State Police has shared data with ICE through a statewide computer system, the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS), since 2008, including criminal history data and its gang member file, which could contain citizenship information, according to the LEADS manual.
More context:
DHS Enforcement and Removal Operations, which oversees the immigration enforcement process, including identification, arrest, detention and removals, entered into a LEADS Agreement in 2024, according to records obtained by WTTW News.
When asked whether this agreement potentially violates the TRUST Act, a spokesperson for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, which oversees compliance and enforcement of the law, responded that they have not reviewed the agreements, so they do not have a comment. After WTTW News provided the agreements to the office, they did not respond to a request for comment.
LEADS operates as a statewide data system used to share crime statistics and other law enforcement information among various agencies. Among the data Illinois State Police makes available in the system is information about individuals’ alleged gang ties. An unknown number of other local law enforcement agencies across the state may also be sharing information about alleged gang affiliations with immigration agencies through the same system. Illinoisans can land in the LEADS database for wearing “distinctive emblems” or tattoos, according to the LEADS manual.
The potential for federal immigration enforcement agencies to use noted gang affiliation as justification for deportation action has civil liberty groups concerned. Gov. JB Pritzker has vigorously defended the TRUST Act, which more generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration agents. |
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2025 CTA Pride Train. (Courtesy of CTA) |
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The Chicago Transit Authority is running a Pride-themed train on the Red Line to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This year marks the eighth year the Pride train is running on the Red Line.
A new exterior design on the eight-car Red Line train features vertical wavy stripes of classic Pride Flag rainbow colors, transgender pride flag colors of white, light blue and pink stripes, and black and brown stripes representing LGBTQ+ people of color. Inside each railcar are messages of affirmation, according to the CTA. A new addition to this year’s Pride train are cards in railcars containing local history and information.
More on the Pride Train:
“The Pride Train is a visible commitment to diversity, visibility, inclusion and love,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen in a Monday news release. “The CTA is proud to be part of Chicago’s Pride celebration, and we’re honored to continue this tradition of standing with the LGBTQ+ community this month and every month.”
Some backstory:
The CTA was the first major U.S. transit agency to have a Pride-themed train, according to the agency. The Pride train was first introduced on the CTA in 2017. The future of Chicago area public transit is in limbo as CTA, Metra and Pace face an anticipated $770 million fiscal cliff next year. A bill proposing tax increases that would have provided agencies with over $1 billion in new funding stalled in the Illinois House this past weekend. |
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(Bert Kaufmann / Wikimedia) |
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Meteorological summer in Chicago is kicking off with a mini heatwave, following a chilly and dry end to spring. According to the National Weather Service, the total rainfall for March-April-May was just 7 inches, or 3.69 inches below normal. Less than an inch and a half of rain fell in May, a far cry from the record precipitation Chicago experienced just five years ago. Moderate drought conditions are now present throughout northeast Illinois and are likely to persist through June, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
On the temperature side, spring was overall slightly warmer than normal, but May's average of 58 degrees was 2.6 degrees below normal. Enjoy the warm-up Monday and Tuesday, with temps in the 80s before a cold front blows in Tuesday night. The sun is out there, but smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to create hazy skies. |
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More From WTTW News: |
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Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to sentence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to more than 12 years in prison following his convictions on charges of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud, saying his decades-long run as the most powerful politician in Illinois was “steeped in corruption.”
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Back in the Day: June 3, 2000 - New Chicago Police HQ Opens
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From 1928 to 2000, the Chicago Police Department’s headquarters operated out of a building at 1121 S. State. By the ‘90s, that station became “known mostly for broken-down elevators, overflowing toilets and aggressive roaches,” according to a Chicago Tribune report that quoted a county employee calling the place “a dump.” On this date, 25 years ago — June 3, 2000 — CPD opened up a brand new headquarters on the South Side. Stationed across 10 acres in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., the new facility features modern amenities including a gym, a high-tech “Command Center.” To this day, the massive complex remains CPD’s home.
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This Week’s Staff Recommendations |
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers highlight their favorite things about Chicago. This week, it’s Bridgette Adu-Wadier, the Minow Fellow for WTTW News and “Chicago Tonight,” on her favorite local coffee drinks.
Bridgette Adu-Wadier: Calling all espresso lovers— here are three of my favorite specialty lattes in the city.
Cold Brew and Oat Milk Latte Half Tan — La Colombe, 5158 N Clark St.
A combination of half of their signature draft oat milk latte and cold brew, both of which they have on tap. The combination of cold brew and the oat milk latte make a bold-tasting combo rich in flavor. The draft oat milk latte provides a little bit of sweetness to balance out the boldness of the cold brew. Why decide between a cold brew and a latte when you can have both?
Honey Nut Cheerios Latte – Ancient Grounds, 1022 W Belmont Ave.
This drink is a treat that both wakes you up and tastes like the milk at the bottom of a cereal bowl. It’s made with oat milk that really elevates the cereal-like flavor. The sweet nuttiness of the cereal is well balanced with the espresso and milk, and doesn’t taste too sweet. It really brings back the childhood nostalgia of eating a big bowl of cereal and enjoying the milk remaining at the bottom of the bowl.
Cardamom Rose Latte – Society Coffee, 1816 N Wells St.
I’m very picky with which espressos I enjoy in a latte, but this one is absolutely delicious with fall-inspired notes. The warm, floral flavor pairs so well with the bold notes of espresso, creating a subtle yet elevated taste. It also just smells amazing and reminds me of a cozy fall morning as we shift into the summer. |
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What’s the most overrated thing about summer in Chicago? |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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