Politics & Government
Skokie Remains Steadfast In Wake Of DHS Sanctuary City Call Out
DHS specifically named Skokie in a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, "deliberately and shamefully" obstructing immigration enforcement.
SKOKIE, IL — Skokie Village officials released a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security callout that claimed the village is "deliberately and shamefully" obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Skokie was among seven Illinois towns specifically named on a DHS list released Friday that are considered sanctuary jurisdictions. The list included the state as a whole, as well as 96 of Illinois' 102 counties.
Related: IL 'Shamefully Obstructing' Federal Immigration Laws, Trump Admin Says
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"The Village remains steadfast in our commitment to support and serve all Skokie residents,” said Mayor Ann Tennes. “We will continue working with our local law enforcement partners and the Governor’s Office to monitor this issue and ensure that our policies reflect the values of our community.”
According to the DHS statement, each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. The federal agency demanded that each jurisdiction immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws.
Find out what's happening in Skokiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. "We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law."
The Skokie Village Board amended the Human Relations chapter of the Village Code in 2017 to ensure all community members had access to Village resources regardless of residency status. This includes services like police and fire emergency and non-emergency services.
Additionally, the amendment made it so village staff and officials won't ask for citizenship or immigration status for any reason. In accordance with the Illinois TRUST Act, Skokie doesn't support immigration enforcement or detain people based on citizenship or immigration status unless pursuant to a criminal investigation.
In 2025, the Village Board reaffirmed the current policies, which remain consistent with Illinois state law.
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