ICE In Joliet's Downtown, Driver's Side Window Smashed: Joliet Township Supervisor Cesar Guerrero Speaks Up

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Township Supervisor Cesar Guerrero, a rising force in Will County's Democrat Party, spoke at Tuesday night's Joliet City Council meeting, but he was not there to discuss the Dome of Unity project. He came to discuss federal immigration raids now taking place around Joliet.

"Some of you may be familiar already with an event that happened (Monday) morning right outside the building here at Joliet City Hall in which a vehicle was stopped, had its driver's side window smashed and the driver detained by federal agents," Guerrero revealed. "Given the proximity to both City Hall and the Joliet Township Office, I felt it important to issue an official public statement coming from the Joliet Township Office, which I'll read an abridged version to you now.

"Recent activity by federal immigration agents near Joliet City Hall has caused concern for many residents. We recognize this may bring uncertainty for many in our community."

Guerrero remarked that Joliet Township government "upholds and defends the rights of all our residents by protecting the privacy and safety of everyone in our buildings. Every resident, regardless of immigration status, has individual rights that are protected under the Constitution, among these are the Fourth Amendment which protects all people from unreasonable search and seizure and the Fifth Amendment, which affords all people the right to remain silent.

"We commend the resilience of our neighbors as we support one another and remain informed about their rights."

Guerrero explained that under the Illinois Trust Act, state and local police are prohibited from enforcing federal immigration laws.

"Joliet Township Government stands ready to support policies and proposals at the state and federal level that allow our residents to live and work without fear," Guerrero declared. "We call upon our neighboring municipalities and government partners to likewise uphold the same commitment within their jurisdictions to protecting their constituents'" rights.

Eventually, Guerrero went on to explain, "I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not asking you to act in any violation of any law, federal, state or municipal. I am not asking you to ignore any executive orders from the federal government. I am not asking you to declare the city of Joliet a sanctuary city, and I am not asking you to in any way harbor dangerous criminals.

"What I am asking you is to join me in recognizing the stress that has been caused to our community by yesterday's events and to uphold that same commitment to Illinois state law that has already been in effect."

Guerrero remarked he was speaking on behalf of many people including "my father, who recently became a naturalized U.S. citizen after two attempts, one appeal, 20 years of waiting, and for my mother, who has been a U.S. citizen for over 30 years and last night had to recount in tears the many stories of her generation of people who have suffered unnecessarily, who have lived in fear, who have persisted and have become pillars of our community and integral to the fabric of what our community means."