ICE Threatens Chicago And Minneapolis Sheriffs With Witness-Tampering Charges
In early July 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hand-delivered letters threatening witness-tampering prosecutions to Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart unless they expand ICE access to inmates.[1]
Both sheriffs' departments say they honor ICE custody requests only when supported by a judge-issued warrant, and federal lawsuits challenging those policies have been dismissed by judges.[1]
The Department of Homeland Security framed the letters as an effort to compel "sanctuary politicians" to hand over dangerous criminals, while legal experts say proving a witness-tampering case against the sheriffs would be difficult.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- In early July 2026, ICE began hand-delivering letters to Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart threatening witness-tampering charges if they do not give agents broader access to inmates sought for deportation.
- Both sheriffs’ departments honor ICE custody requests only when supported by a judge-issued warrant, and prior federal lawsuits targeting these policies in Illinois and Minnesota have been dismissed by judges.
- The Department of Homeland Security describes the letters as an effort to compel 'sanctuary politicians' to turn over dangerous criminals, while legal experts cited say a witness-tampering case against the sheriffs would be hard to prove.
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August 05, 2026