City and state leaders are taking the Department of Homeland Security to court for alleged license plate violations.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says the federal lawsuit is a result of immigration officers swapping and altering license plates.
“Illinois will not stand for federal agents disregarding our laws and compromising public safety. We have a fundamental responsibility to protect our residents, to uphold the law and to hold people accountable for their illegal actions.”
Giannoulias says hundreds of tips through the state’s Plate Watch Hotline resulted in an investigation that revealed numerous instances of license plate tampering by ICE and CBP agents.
“If we don’t know who is driving which vehicle and which car is registered to any particular driver, our streets will become lawless. We will continue to fight for accountability and the safety of everyone on Illinois roads.”
The suit specifically names Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.