The Illinois secretary of state’s office is reminding everyone — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — to refrain from swapping or altering state license plates amid concerns of plate tampering as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown that continues to pervade the Chicago area.
In a news release Tuesday, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office cautioned against the illegal practice, noting it has received several reports of ICE agents “flipping and modifying state-issued license plates on vehicles to carry out their military-style deportation efforts.”
Since President Donald Trump’s local mass deportation push launched in early September, agents in vehicles have been seen conducting immigration enforcement efforts from the city to the suburbs. Some vehicles have donned Illinois license plates, others have sported out-of-state plates. But concerns have started to circulate over whether those vehicles are operating with proper licensing.
The secretary of state’s office pointed to a video — reportedly taken in the northern suburbs — that began circulating online last week of a federal immigration officer telling a bystander filming their vehicle’s license plate that: “You could record all you want. We change the plates out every day.” The footage depicts an Illinois plate. The Tribune could not independently verify the video.
Earlier this month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that it had documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates through the course of “Operation Midway Blitz.”
“Swapping out license plates or tampering with them to avoid or conceal detection is illegal, unsafe and will not be tolerated in Illinois,” Giannoulias said in a statement.
Giannoulias, who is up for reelection to a second term as secretary of state next year, is also among a handful of Chicago politicians who may try to unseat Mayor Brandon Johnson in 2027.
The secretary of state’s office issues registration plates to vehicles titled in Illinois. State law requires that Illinois-registered vehicles have both a front and rear license plate and that when displayed, plates are free from obstruction and clearly visible, per the secretary of state’s office. Further, while other states may only require a rear license plate, all vehicles driving on Illinois roads must have proper licensing in line with the laws of their state, Giannoulias’ office said.
Regarding out-of-state plates, a spokesperson for the office added, “To the extent that a vehicle would be or is unlawfully registered in that other state or jurisdiction, if it is found to be not properly registered, then it may be considered as the operation of a vehicle without registration under Illinois law.”
The penalties for displaying an unauthorized plate or obscuring or modifying license plates in any way include fines and potential jail time. License plates may also be suspended or revoked by the secretary of state.
In a statement to the Tribune, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin maintained the agency “is not going to confirm our vehicles and put an even larger target on our officers’ backs.”
“When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists,” McLaughlin stated.
Last week, a Chicago man was indicted on charges he solicited the murder of U.S. Border Patrol field boss Gregory Bovino, but the bare-bones document made no mention of previous allegations that the man is a high-ranking gang member.
McLaughlin also in her statement contended that, “Our officers are facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them including domestic terrorists following our officers and ramming them with vehicles.”
A woman was indicted by a federal grand jury on assault charges this month for allegedly intentionally ramming an agent’s government-issued SUV during an immigration-enforcement mission on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The agent, in turn, opened fire and shot the woman.
To monitor license plate violations, the secretary of state’s office has established a “Plate Watch Hotline” where residents can report potential violations, which the secretary of state’s office will then investigate, it says. Reports can be made by calling the hotline at 312-814-1730 or emailing platewatch@ilsos.gov.
“No one, including federal agents, is above the law, and we intend to hold them accountable, especially while driving on our roadways,” Giannoulias said in the news release. “This is a matter of public safety and protecting the wellbeing of our communities.”
Chicago Tribune’s Olivia Olander and Jason Meisner contributed.
tkenny@chicagotribune.com