Comment contradicts foundation of justice

In an article about the Mount Prospect village board meeting this month, the Daily Herald reported that Mayor Paul Hoefert recommended that residents who have concerns about ICE should “carry citizenship documents at all times.” I find this recommendation deeply offensive.

In high school civics class I learned that one of the hallmarks of our nation that helps separate it from authoritarian regimes is “innocent until proven guilty.” Mr. Hoefert’s comment endorses just the opposite: we (ICE) will consider you guilty of being undocumented unless you can prove you are innocent. The comment is also an implied approval of the police-state tactics that are currently being used in our area, where people are being pulled out of their places of employment, grabbed off the street and armed ICE officers are roaming the streets and neighborhoods of Mount Prospect and the greater Chicago area.

Mr. Hoefert, you owe the residents of Mount Prospect a public apology for this comment. And to show the sincerity of your apology, you and the village board should take a lesson from our neighboring communities: prohibit the activity of ICE on village property.

Nancy Daly

Mount Prospect