Mundelein mayoral candidates spurn Trump on mass deportations, say police shouldn’t assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Mundelein’s two mayoral candidates oppose allowing the village’s police officers to assist mass deportation efforts orchestrated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal agencies.

The stance shared by Robin Meier and Tim Wilson aligns with current village policy and defies attempts by President Donald Trump to quickly purge the nation of immigrants living here illegally.

The issue particularly is pertinent in Mundelein, where more than 36% of residents are Hispanic and more than 45% of residents age 5 or older live in homes where languages other than English are spoken, according to the latest U.S. census data.

Meier and Wilson discussed their views on deportation efforts and other issues Wednesday in a roughly 35-minute online discussion with the Daily Herald. A video recording can be viewed at dailyherald.com.

Meier and Wilson are competing to succeed Mayor Steve Lentz, who isn’t seeking a fourth term.

When asked if Mundelein police should assist federal agents seeking to capture and deport immigrants living in town illegally, Meier flatly said no.

“Mundelein police will not be involved in that,” she said.

Seven days after Trump’s inauguration and amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Mundelein and other suburbs, the village issued a public statement saying police will follow Illinois laws that limit local police involvement in immigration enforcement and not participate in federal raids. Meier said she agrees with the statement.

Wilson also backed the village’s policy. He said some Mundelein residents aren’t leaving their homes out of fear of deportation, which hurts local businesses.

Additionally, residents should be able to call police for assistance without worrying about deportation, Wilson said.

“We want them to feel safe,” he said.

The Mundelein Police Department didn’t support Trump’s anti-immigrant attitude during his first term, either. Immigration enforcement “(is) really not their mission,” Wilson said.

“It’s about community policing, building trust across all the groups within our community,” he said.

Wilson was elected to the village board in 2021. This is his first mayoral campaign.

Meier is in her third stint as a village trustee. She served on the board from 2008 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2021, and again since 2023.

Meier unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2013 and 2021.