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Hamed Alsaidi, 31, was arrested in Mokena on August 1 and
charged with eight counts of possessing an unregistered
destructive device.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and
Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer with Will County the day
Alsaidi was arrested, but county judge Theodore Jarz granted
Alsaidi pretrial release the next day.
State Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Homer Glen, said local authorities
are not allowed to coordinate with federal immigration law
enforcement in Illinois.
“ICE actually had filed for the detainer, but due to the TRUST
Act where courts and police aren't allowed to coordinate, he was
walking free for a few days,” Sheehan told The Center Square.
ICE took Alsaidi into custody two days after he was released.
“This criminal illegal alien was arrested after he was found to
have EIGHT Molotov cocktails in his possession and gave a false
name to officers. He now faces charges of unlawful possession of
a weapon and obstructing identification,” a DHS spokesperson
said.
Sheehan said Mokena police and Will County prosecutors did their
job by asking the judge for Alsaidi’s detainment, but Illinois’
electronic monitoring system is broken.
“Just in Cook County alone, they have 300 on ankle monitors that
are AWOL and there are some that charges include murder, so we
as a General Assembly, this needs to be a top priority going
into veto session, lame duck session and then the new General
Assembly that gets sworn in,” Sheehan told The Center Square.
Sheehan said a search of Alsaidi’s backpack allegedly uncovered
a handwritten map along with the eight Molotov cocktails.
“To have a map that included the Metra station and then
mentioning the mosque, the Orland Park Prayer Center, I just
think it was reckless by this judge to then release this
person,” Sheehan said.
According to DHS, Alsaidi illegally entered the United States in
March 2024 through California.
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