Deer Park going after migrant transports

Deer Park could become the next suburb to ban unscheduled deliveries of migrants by bus from Texas.

The village board will hold a special meeting Wednesday to debate and likely adopt such a prohibition. The proposed fine is $750 for each passenger who exits a bus that doesn’t have permission to stop in town.

If approved, bus drivers would have to purchase licenses before letting 10 or more passengers disembark — if the majority of those passengers aren’t Deer Park-area residents. Licenses would cost $100.

Additionally, drivers would have to use certified mail to notify village officials at least 48 hours before dropping off passengers in town. Drivers would have to provide the planned day and time of a stop, among other information.

Stops would be limited to weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to the proposal, and they only could be made at the village hall, 23680 W. Cuba Road.

The rules wouldn’t apply to buses being used by the federal government or schools or that primarily transport people with disabilities to and from their homes.

The board meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the Vehe Barn, 23570 W. Cuba Road.

Under the direction of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas began busing migrants from the state’s border with Mexico to Chicago and other Democratic-controlled cities in 2022. Buses from Texas started unloading migrants in Lombard, Naperville, Elmhurst, Fox River Grove and other suburbs late last year after Chicago outlawed unscheduled bus deliveries.

Buffalo Grove, South Barrington, Elburn and Rosemont are among the other suburbs that have banned unscheduled bus drops. Mundelein’s village board did so Monday night.

Unlike the rules in many towns, Deer Park’s proposal doesn’t call for buses to be impounded. It also doesn’t authorize flat fines for bus operators.

Other communities have set fines as steep as $10,000 per bus, regardless of the number of passengers.