Aurora mayor investigating feds’ arrest of protester
Aurora Mayor John Laesch is looking into what happened Saturday that resulted in federal immigration law enforcement agents taking a woman to a hospital to be treated for tear-gas injuries.
Laesch videotaped activity outside of Rush-Copley Medical Center, including a demonstration by protesters. He said the woman was arrested near Allen Elementary School on Farnsworth Avenue on the city’s east side.
Laesch said he was told it is the second time this month the woman has been arrested and pepper-sprayed at a protest in Aurora. He said she is a U.S. citizen who is married to a man of Mexican descent.
On social media, people said the woman was pulled out of her car, while her infant was in the back seat.
On a
video taken by a protester, people repeatedly pointed out that at least one of the federal agents’ vehicles did not have license plates, and asked Aurora police officers at the protest to “do something about it.” Some accused Aurora police of cooperating with the federal agents.
Federal authorities have taken to driving vehicles without plates after activists were recording the information and sharing it with other activists who were warning people about the presence of agents in certain areas. Illinois Secretary of State Alexis Giannoulias has said it is illegal for the agents to switch or remove license plates.
The Daily Herald has requested comment from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Laesch said people are working to hire a lawyer for the woman, and that he is considering donating to the effort.
There’s no indication in federal or Kane County court records that she has been charged with a crime.
He said he has contacted the East Aurora District 131 school superintendent to see if video footage of what happened at the school is available.
Laesch said he asked Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser whether the hospital had the right to ask federal agents to leave.
Mosser told him they did, because it is private property and private property owners don’t have to let law enforcement in without a judicial warrant.
Laesch said hospital officials told him their attorney advised them to not evict the agents.