Illinois HB 5024 Becomes Public Act 104-0786: Immigration Detention Centers May Not Be Located Within 1,500 Feet of Schools, Homes and Places of Worship

Illinois House Bill 5024 became Public Act 104-0786, effective August 7, 2026. The Act adds Section 11-5-12 to the Illinois Municipal Code, and its operative rule is: a detention center facility “may not be located, constructed, or operated within 1,500 feet of the property boundaries of any school.” The same sentence lists day care centers, cemeteries, public parks, forest preserves, public housing, private residences and places of worship. The Act states: “This Act takes effect upon becoming law.”

The Act defines “Federal immigration authority” to include ICE, CBP and DHS, and any entity under contract with such an agency to perform immigration enforcement activities. The House passed the bill 072-035-002 and the Senate 039-017-000. The Act’s text contains no clause addressing facilities that already exist.