Mundelein Police Respond To ICE Activity In Town

MUNDELEIN, IL — Officials looked into reports of ICE activity in Mundelein over the weekend but did not find any evidence that federal officers were in town.

Mundelein Police Chief Jason Seeley and David Ortiz, executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center and a Waukegan Township trustee, said they both read about ICE activity in Mundelein on Sunday, according to the Lake County News-Sun. Seeley said his department sent officers to the location reported on social media butdid not see any signs of federal officers or an ICE raid.

In a statement from village officials addressing the federal immigration activity, police said the Illinois TRUST and VOICES ACT outline prohibitions, restrictions, and limitations relating to Illinois law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

"Mundelein police personnel comply with all requirements of both acts and will not participate in any of the ongoing federal immigration activities occurring throughout the country or across the state," according to the statement. "Furthermore, the police department intends to continue to collaborate with local leaders, schools, businesses, community groups, and places of worship to educate and assist them in protecting their interests."

Meanwhile, dozens of people were arrested over the weekend in "enhanced targeted" immigration enforcement raids in Chicago over the weekend, according to reports. In Lake County, at least two people, men in Waukegan and Round Lake, were taken into custody by ICE agents, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

Trump border czar Tom Homan told NBC on Sunday that the Chicago-area arrests included several people convicted of serious crimes including murder and sex offenses, but said people without criminal convictions who were present during the raids would also be detained.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union" that he supported the deportation of violent criminals with convictions.

Related: Pritzker Vows To Protect IL From Trump, New Border Czar Says 'Game On'

“If that’s who they’re picking up, we’re all for it,” the governor said, before advocating for a path to citizenship for immigrants who are law-abiding longtime residents with jobs and families in the area. But Pritzker said local authorities would not coordinate with federal officials on the arrest of people if they don’t have a warrant.

“We’re going to follow the law in Illinois and federal law too,” he said. "We expect them to do the same. I’m very afraid that they will not follow the law."

Pritzker previously said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Chicago could target around 2,000 people.

Related: If ICE Comes To School: IL Issues Guidance For Teachers, Staff

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement on social media acknowledged "confirmed reports of ICE enforcement activity in Chicago."

"Per City code, Chicago police were not involved in this immigration enforcement activity," he said, directing residents to the Know Your Rights resource guide at chicago.gov. "My team and I are in close communication with City officials including the CPD."

ICE said it conducted the operations with the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firarms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; and U.S. Marshals Service.

The operations were intended “to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities,” ICE said in a statement posted on social media, referring to the operation as "Operation Safeguard."
Among those present in Chicago for the operations were Homan and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove.

"We will support everyone at the federal, state, and local levels who joins this critical mission to take back our communities," Bove said in a statement. "We will use all available tools to address obstruction and other unlawful impediments to our efforts to protect the homeland. Most importantly, we will not rest until the work is done.”

Top officials under President Donald Trump vowed to start immigration enforcement operations in Chicago the day after Trump's inauguration before walking back those statements.

Last week, Bove issued a memo ordering federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who they believe are interfering with the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, in an apparent warning to the dozens of so-called sanctuary jurisdictions across America.
Chicago has some of the strongest sanctuary protections, which bar cooperation between city police and immigration agents.

Immigrant rights groups have tried to prepare for the aggressive crackdown with campaigns for immigrants to know their rights in case of an arrest. City officials have done the same, publishing similar information at public bus and train stations.

On Saturday, several Chicago-based immigrant rights groups filed a lawsuit against ICE, seeking an injunction prohibiting certain types of immigration raids in Chicago.

Related: IL Sues Trump Over Ending Birthright Citizenship

The Associated Press contributed to this story.