Chicago halts online city ID initiative following ICE request for user information

Chicago Suspends CityKey ID Online Applications Amid ICE Subpoena

Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia has halted the online application process for the CityKey ID after receiving a subpoena from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for information about applicants.

This move comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to increase deportations of undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, drawing resistance from local officials. Mayors inDemocratic-led cities, like Chicago, have vocally opposed efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

Valencia announced on Friday that her office will shut down the CityKey online portal. The CityKey ID serves as an identification card available to Chicago residents, independent of their immigration status, gender identity, or criminal history. The decision to suspend the online application was largely prompted by ICE’s request for data related to non-citizens.

According to reports, when the municipal ID program was launched in 2017, it was designed to protect personal information by bypassing public records laws, processing data solely for applications.

As the immigration crisis has intensified over the years, the city had shifted to an online portal for processing applicants. However, under the Public Records Act, the office cannot destroy documentation related to this process.

In response to public concerns about the safety of documents associated with ICE, Valencia felt it was necessary to pause the online portal. “We’ve heard a lot of feedback suggesting we take a step back and evaluate the situation,” she told the Tribune. “We assess the circumstances daily, and if conditions change, we can easily restore our online services.”

In May 2024, City Council introduced an amendment to local government code that specified that information provided by applicants for a City ID through the online portal will be retained.

Valencia emphasized her commitment to transparency, stating, “I have always been honest and straightforward.” She reassured that no data had been shared with ICE regarding CityKey applicants. “If this administration didn’t rely on civilian data, we wouldn’t be having this discussion,” she added, referring to Trump’s policies that have led to fears among immigrants.