Suburban Mayor Responds To ICE Presence, Arrests

ROUND LAKE, IL — As has been the case for weeks in suburban communities across the Chicago area, ICE agents recently made their presence known in Round Lake as they work to detain residents.

Mayor Brian Brubaker said ICE activity began cropping up on October 17. That morning, he was downtown with some village trustees when they learned someone had been detained at a gas station. They then spotted SUVs and trucks circling through downtown that were believed to be ICE or DHS vehicles.

"Over the next few hours, we received reports of two to three additional detentions involving people at downtown businesses or in parked vehicles," he said. "I personally witnessed one individual being taken at the corner of Route 134 and Cedar Lake Road."

ICE activity seemed to slow last week but agents remained present in Round Lake and surrounding communities, he said.

"There has been significant discussion on social media, but what I’ve shared here reflects only what we directly witnessed or confirmed to be accurate," he said. "The village is not notified by federal agencies before, during, or after these enforcement actions, so our understanding is based solely on what we observe or are told."

In a news release sent out late last week, village officials addressed the stress, anxiety and uncertainty that ICE's presence in a town can cause for residents and business owners. Village officials stressed that their "top priority is the safety, dignity, and well-being of every resident, regardless of background or immigration status."

Under the Illinois TRUST Act, police officers are prohibited from assisting or participating in federal immigration enforcement efforts.

"The focus of our police department remains on maintaining public safety and a welcoming environment for everyone in our community," according to the statement from Round Lake officials.

Residents are encouraged to call 911 if they need police assistance.

"Round Lake officers respond independently and are not accompanied by ICE. Officers do not ask about immigration status nor do they detain anyone based solely on immigration status," according to village officials. "The Round Lake Police department does not assist in Federal immigration investigations."

Village officials also want residents to know that federal agents must have legal authority to enter nonpublic areas.

Village officials provided the following links, which are meant to help

• Illinois Immigration Information
• The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) offers a hotline (855-435-7693)
  that can connect individuals with an immigration attorney to understand their rights. There are also resources available on how to handle interactions with federal officers.
• National Immigrant Justice Center
• Immigration Justice: The Resurrection Project
• Legal Assistance for Illinois residents