Cook County Clerk’s Office experiences spike in vital record requests due to immigration concerns

COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — New efforts are being made to protect immigrant families in Cook County, as County Clerk Monica Gordan stressed what she sees as fallout from President Donald Trump’s widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants.

On Monday, Gordan said her office has received a surge in requests for birth certificates and marriage licenses, likely due to fears of mass deportations.

“We know this is not just a coincidence,” Gordan said. “In fact, our staffing supervisors have spoken to many of our customers, who say they are feeling anxious and concerned about their security and want to obtain these vital records as quickly as possible.”

According to the Cook County Clerk’s Office, nearly 11,000 more birth records were issued the first two months of this year compared to last January and February.  About 1,300 more marriage and civil union licenses were issued in January and February year over year. 

Gordan—a Democrat—sought to remind residents that local officials protect the privacy of vital documents regardless of an individual’s immigration status.

“We will not share records with outside influences,” Gordan said. “We will never allow fear to dictate who can obtain a marriage license or birth certificate.”

Gordon’s messages came as the Trump administration continues to roll out a new app that will allow undocumented immigrants to self deport rather than face arrest and detention. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection app is called CBP Home.

On top of growing immigration policy implementation—as the Trump administration ends federal government Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives—Gordon is strengthening DEI in her office, adding a deputy clerk to handle diversity.

Moving forward, local municipalities are bracing for the Trump’s requirement that all undocumented immigrants 14 and older register and provide fingerprints to the U.S. government. Those who fail to comply could face fines or prosecution, according to Trump administration officials.

Fingerprinting requirements in the United States and Illinois

Where the current United States political system stands, fingerprinting requirements vary depending on the context across the country. Generally, they are mandated for specific purposes like visa applications, background checks for certain professions, and immigration processes.

When it comes to visa applications, the U.S. Department of State mandates fingerprinting for most visa applicants seeking to enter the United States, including those applying for non-immigrant (NIV) and immigrant (IV) visas.

Applicants ages 14-79 must be fingerprinted for NIV, and all IV applicants 14 years old and above must be fingerprinted, according to state department records. In some cases, children aged 7 or over applying for an IV or NIV may be subject to fingerprinting.

As it pertains to the immigration process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) collects fingerprint records as part of the background check process for applicants for naturalization, or in layman’s terms, gaining U.S. citizenship. 

An applicant may qualify for a waiver of the fingerprint requirement if they are unable to provide fingerprints due to a medical condition or other circumstances. According to the Justia Immigration Law Center, Fingerprints are collected at application support centers in the applicant’s area.

In Illinois, fingerprinting is generally required for licensures through background checks. A number of professions (law enforcement, child care and education, just to name a few) require criminal background checks, where fingerprinting is typically a part of the process.