Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias revoked an Enterprise Rent-A-Car license plate after it was swapped out by federal immigration agents, records obtained by the Tribune show.
The move follows widespread concern during Operation Midway Blitz about federal officials changing out license plates while conducting raids throughout the region. Giannoulias opened a hotline for complaints in October and sent a letter to ICE leadership warning against tampering with plates after the Tribune reported on an encounter where a federal agent told a woman, “You can record all you want. We change the plates out every day.”
Giannoulias this week said his office received hundreds of complaints about immigration agents potentially violating the law and revoked the license plate for a 2026 Chevy Tahoe used by agents.
“No one is above the law,” Giannoulias said in a statement to the Tribune. “That’s why we’ve made it clear to federal agents and rental-car companies that swapping out or altering license plates on vehicles to avoid detection will not be tolerated in Illinois. Our job is to keep our roads safe for Illinoisans, and that’s why when our investigation found evidence of ICE agents switching license plates between vehicles, we took immediate action to revoke the plate, making it illegal to drive that vehicle. I encourage residents to continue reporting these activities to the plate watch hotline.”The U.S. Department of Homeland Security scoffed at the revocation, saying that its agents swapped out license plates for their personal safety and repeating their debunked refrain that the agents are detaining the “worst of the worst” immigrants in Chicago.
“Our operators comply with federal law and, consistent with the Supremacy Clause, endeavor to comply with state law except where doing so could compromise or interfere with the federal mission and operations,” the statement said. “Federal motor vehicle management regulations account for the officer safety, public safety, and mission needs associated with federal investigative and law enforcement duties. Our agents risk their lives every day arresting the worst of the worst criminals from Chicago’s streets to protect the public and stop rampant crime. The Illinois Secretary of State should be thanking them.”
Giannoulias warned Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Todd Lyons on Oct. 23 that “swapping, altering, tampering, or any other change made to a license plate that is properly displayed on any vehicle is unlawful” under state law, according to a copy of a letter from the secretary of state’s general counsel to Lyons.
His office also sent letters to rental car companies warning that they also can have their license plates revoked.
Since President Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation launched in early September, agents in vehicles were seen conducting immigration enforcement efforts from the city to the suburbs. Some vehicles donned Illinois license plates, others sported out-of-state tags. But concerns circulated over whether those vehicles were operating with proper licensing.
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.
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.
That’s what happened to an Enterprise vehicle, according to a revocation letter from Giannoulias’ office to the business’ parent company, EAN Holdings LLC, obtained by the Tribune. The company must now request a new plate, under state law.
The rental car company did not immediately return a request for comment.
