Sheriff Ron Hain told Kane County's Judicial and Public Safety Committee on Dec. 11 that local deputies cannot lawfully detain or arrest federal immigration agents operating on public property and asked elected officials to help calm public reaction.

"We simply can't," Hain said, explaining that federal agents operate on federal authority and that local deputies' options are limited to negotiation and safety management. He described frequent interactions at the judiciary campus and said deputies have negotiated with a local ICE supervisor to reduce conflict around the courthouse.

State's Attorney Angela Mosser provided a legal briefing that framed the county's options. Mosser said the county's Trust Act limits local assistance to federal immigration enforcement unless a criminal warrant is presented, and she described a recently passed bill referenced in the meeting as House Bill 1312 that restricts civil immigration enforcement near sensitive locations. "The way that this bill was written, the only enforcement is for somebody to sue those federal immigration officials civilly," Mosser said, adding that the statute does not authorize local officers to detain federal agents.

Committee members raised concerns about public misperception and safety. Several members urged careful language when discussing arrests or "kidnapping" in social media and public comment. Miss Gums offered to collaborate on an educational video or materials; Mr. Greif said a short, official statement would reduce the "vitriol" he's seen in public responses.

Hain said he would assign his undersheriff to coordinate the operational response and promised to work with Mosser on a brief press release describing what the sheriff's office can and cannot lawfully do. "I'll work with Miss Mosser to get a press release together. It's just gonna be a paragraph on what we can and can't do," he said.

The committee did not take formal policy action during the discussion. Members instructed staff to prepare a clear explanatory statement for distribution to the public and media to reduce confusion and lower tensions around courthouse encounters.

What happens next: The sheriff's office and the state's attorney will coordinate a short public statement explaining the legal limits on local enforcement and outlining safety guidance for constituents.