Arlington Heights Library Event on Immigrant Rights Sparks Heated Debate in Local Facebook Group

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A routine library announcement turned into a long, heated argument this week on the Really Everything Arlington Heights Facebook group, where a post about an upcoming virtual event for immigrants set off a mix of misinformation, sharp disagreements, and a separate fight over LGBTQ books in the children’s section.

The original post came from resident Amy Babington Somary, who called the Arlington Heights Memorial Library her “go-to” for reliable information and shared details about a virtual program on legal rights for immigrants. The session requires no library card, allows anonymous participation, and will be presented in English with Spanish subtitles.

Within minutes, the thread jumped off track.

Questions about “anti-ICE” events spark first clash

Resident Malgorzata Olszanski asked whether the event resembled what she called an “anti ICE” meeting held at the Mount Prospect Library. She posted a flyer for that earlier program, a “Know Your Rights” training session offered in multiple languages.

Some members pushed back.

“Since when is knowing your rights anti-ICE?” one commenter asked. Others said the previous meeting simply distributed information in English, Spanish, Polish, Korean, and Hindi.

Olszanski maintained she was “just asking.”

The thread turns into an argument about immigration and taxpayers

Several users responded with sharp criticism of immigrants and of the idea of offering them legal information.

One commenter claimed undocumented people “rob benefits from legal people” and “suck off our government.” Another accused the library of helping “illegal immigrants,” calling the situation “ass backwards.” Others argued that taxpayers should not be funding any events tied to immigration at all.

Babington Somary clarified that the event was informational and not a shelter or service program. The pushback continued.

Fight shifts to LGBTQ books in the kids’ section

Midway through the thread, Olszanski raised a different issue entirely, questioning why the library carries children’s books with LGBTQ themes, including the title Growing Up Trans.

She called some books “obscene” and said the children’s area is a “no-go zone for many taxpayers.” Another commenter, Susan Walker Schulenberg, argued that the library showcases “minority lifestyle choices” while ignoring “traditional families.”

Others strongly disagreed.

“Not every book is for every person,” one resident replied. “If you don’t need a book about being trans, don’t check it out.” Several pointed out that the books shown in the thread were simply on a shelf, not part of a display. Another commenter said families with LGBTQ relatives might seek out those titles.

The back-and-forth became increasingly personal, with accusations of ignorance, bad motives, and dishonesty.

National politics creep in

As the conversation continued, some members shifted to national politics, saying the border was “opened” by President Joe Biden or arguing that Congress has failed to fix immigration for decades. Others pushed back and said the system has been broken under both parties.

What started it all

The virtual event at the center of the argument is a basic informational session on immigrant rights. It remains scheduled as posted.

What happened in the comments shows how quickly local issues in Arlington Heights can escalate into broader fights over immigration, public institutions, and what belongs in the library.