Mount Prospect board gears up for immigration enforcement discussion
Mount Prospect Mayor Paul Hoefert said the village board will likely discuss possible action in response to federal immigration enforcement at its Dec. 2 meeting.
Recent meetings have been dominated by public comment from residents demanding village board action and pointing to neighboring communities that have passed resolutions or ordinances.
Last week’s village board meeting featured more than an hour of public comment.
“Our presence is a direct reflection of the community's growing frustration and demand for accountability,” said Beth Dukes, who said an ordinance prohibiting information sharing with federal agents and banning enforcement on village property would go a long way toward regaining trust from residents.
Speakers like Ronak McFadden urged the board to make a motion to adopt an immigration enforcement policy.
“There is no neutral when there is a group of people being oppressed. When you are neutral, you are the oppressor,” McFadden said.
Hoefert made it clear there would be no debate, while comments would be taken under advisement. He said the village had issued a statement that was both empathetic and practical.
Not all speakers favored formal board action.
“Just as I believe it's harmful to stop local law enforcement, I also believe it would be inappropriate for the village to spend the time and money to pass a resolution against federal law enforcement,” said Debbie Geavaras.
Along with calls for action were suggestions that village board members could face consequences in the upcoming election.
Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison noted trustees William Grossi, Colleen Saccotelli and Vince Dante are up in the next election cycle.
Dante said Morrison was out of order in making that suggestion, noting Morrison is running for Congress.
Morrison also said Hoefert could use his executive authority to ban agents from village property.
Hoefert disagreed, saying any decision on the issue would be made by the entire board.