‘It has created real fear and anxiety for many neighbors’: Des Plaines mayor responds to ICE detentions in city

Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski issued a public statement Thursday after three people, including a city resident and U.S. citizen, reportedly were detained by federal immigration agents at a local gas station earlier in the week.

In his written remarks, Goczkowski reiterated that the city does not work with the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and encouraged citizens and non-citizens alike to learn their rights.

“Our job is to serve Des Plaines residents, not to question where they came from or their status,” he wrote.

The message comes after reports that federal agents arrested the men Tuesday morning at a gas station near Ballard and Potter roads, on the city’s east side. One of the men is a U.S. citizen and was later released, according to reports.

“We only have what has been reported in the media, but I know it has created real fear and anxiety for many neighbors,” Goczkowski wrote.

He noted that under state law, the city does not coordinate or communicate with ICE or use its resources to enforce federal immigration actions.

“I encourage everyone, whether you were born here or came from somewhere else, to learn about their rights in potential encounters with immigration enforcement,” Goczkowski wrote. “Knowing your rights is one of the strongest tools to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors. Knowing your rights is also how we ensure that our protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution are respected.”

“Des Plaines is, and will remain, a welcoming community for all,” he added.