The state has warned national rental car companies that federal immigration enforcement agents switching the vehicles’ assigned license plates with other plates violates Illinois law, and the firms ultimately could be held liable.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office in late October sent notices to several rental car companies, including ACE, Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise, saying the office has received “multiple reports” of federal ICE agents tampering with plates.
Giannoulias said his office has received hundreds of complaints about federal immigration agents attempting to disguise the cars they’re renting for enforcement actions by tampering with their license plates.
“Swapping Illinois license plates is illegal, period, and no one, including federal agents, is above the law,” Giannoulias said in a video posted to his office’s Facebook page.
Giannoulias said his office immediately revoked the license plate of a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe, after an investigation confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had switched the vehicle’s plates. The vehicle was rented out by Enterprise, which did not return requests for comment.
He said he also sent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security a cease-and-desist letter in a bid to stop the tactic.
“This is about public safety, transparency and accountability,” Giannoulias said.
But the federal agency that oversaw the fall “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement in the Chicago area stopped far short of any commitment to adhere to Giannoulias’ demands.
In a statement, DHS said Illinois’ secretary of state “should be thanking” the agents carrying out immigration enforcement.
The agency added there are occasions when it may be unable to comply with Illinois law, including situations “where doing so could compromise or interfere with the federal missions and operations.”
The DHS statement justified that stance by citing the U.S Constitution’s supremacy clause, which gives federal laws precedence over any conflicting state laws.
“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 DHS statement said.
In late October, Giannoulias’ office launched a hotline for people to report alleged instances of federal immigration enforcement agents tampering with license plates.
That move came two weeks after the Chicago Sun-Times sent evidence of DHS driving on public streets without Illinois plates during searches for people without legal status in the Chicago area.
Giannoulias said penalties for tampering with license plates can include fines and even potential jail time.
Giannoulias again this week urged the public to call 312-814-1730 or email platewatch@ilsos.gov to report vehicles with plates that are missing, masked or altered.
WBEZ reached out to several major players in the rental car industry, including Hertz, Enterprise, Budget and Ace Rent a Car. But none responded to requests for comment about the secretary of state’s actions.