Evanston, IL Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Ord. No. 17-O-25 (1-13-2025)
- Status inquiries
- require written consent
- Detainer/admin warrant alone
- not grounds to detain
- Exception
- judge-signed criminal warrant
- Private lawsuit
- not created by Chapter
Summary
Evanston's Welcoming City Ordinance bars city agencies and police from asking about immigration status, sharing it with ICE, or holding people on civil detainers alone, except for valid criminal warrants signed by a judge.
No agency or agent shall participate in civil immigration enforcement operations or assist the civil enforcement of federal immigration law... If EPD receives a request from an immigration agent, an EPD supervising officer shall determine whether such request is to assist in the enforcement of civil immigration law. If the supervisor determines that the request is to assist in the enforcement of civil immigration law, the supervisor shall decline the request.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 22 of Title 1 forbids City agents from requesting, investigating, or disclosing anyone's citizenship or immigration status without written consent, and bars using that status on City benefit applications. Evanston Police may not stop, arrest, or continue to detain someone based solely on an administrative warrant or immigration detainer, and a supervising officer must decline any request from an immigration agent found to be for civil immigration enforcement. The exception is a valid criminal warrant signed by a judge. Adopted by Ord. No. 17-O-25 on January 13, 2025, replacing an earlier 2016 version.
Violations & Fines
The Chapter creates no private cause of action against the City. Violations by City employees are handled through internal discipline, personnel rules, the Code of Ethics, or union contracts, after a complaint to the City Manager or EPD's Office of Professional Standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Evanston police hold someone on an ICE detainer alone?
Can Evanston employees ask about a resident's immigration status?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois immigration policy overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Sanctuary Policy Preemption in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle sanctuary policy preemption.