ICE Banned From Immigration Enforcement On Aurora Property, City Council Unanimously Votes

AURORA, IL — The Aurora City Council unanimously voted to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from conducting immigration-related activities on Aurora-owned property.

During a special meeting Wednesday, council members passed an ordinance tailored to prohibit the use of city-owned and -controlled property — including parking lots, buildings or parks — as a staging area, processing location or operations base for civil immigration enforcement activities.

The ordinance also directs the city to make an effort to compile, document and share any records of "attempted or actual unauthorized use of City property by federal agents," including ICE, with the recently established Illinois Accountability Commission. The record-keeping will help the state create a public record of federal conduct and consider policy recommendations for "preventing future harm to Illinois residents," according to a news release.

City departments will also collaborate to identify vulnerable properties and install signs that affirm the ordinance. According to city documents, Aurora's corporation counsel will develop implementation procedures, and the mayor's office will lead enforcement efforts and serve as the final reporting contact for attempted or actual unauthorized use of property.

"It's our duty to protect and to serve our residents, and that's what we're doing up here," 8th Ward Alderwoman Patty Smith said. "It's taken longer than those of you out there have liked, but that is what we're doing today."

The ordinance first made its way to the Aurora City Council Nov. 4 but was sent back to the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee for further discussion. Alderman Michael Saville made an amendment to add language calling on the Aurora Police Department to adopt procedures to document violations of the ordinance when sworn officers on duty observe them.

Some reports indicate that federal Border Patrol and ICE agents will likely leave Chicago soon, as Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, the top on-the-ground official leading immigration enforcement efforts, was expected to depart for another assignment, but the Department of Homeland Security denies that agents are leaving. The controversial "Operation Midway Blitz" began in early September in Chicago.

On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered the release on bond of up to 615 migrants arrested in the area by Nov. 19, saying the Department of Homeland Security violated a consent decree that limits the ability of federal agents to conduct warrantless arrests, Patch reported.