Council must act to protect community from ICE

As I left the Jan. 5 St. Charles City Council meeting, one question asked kept echoing in my head. Do you care? Do you care?

This question was asked by a citizen speaker after council members had quietly listened to almost a dozen passionate speeches that focused on the fear, stress, trauma and economic harm resulting from ICE operations in St. Charles and the rest of the country. Board members listened as speakers described the impact on St. Charles children, families, schools and local businesses. They listened as speakers expressed their concern that community members are not receiving due process.

The speaker asked, “Do you care?” because for three months, citizens have attended council meetings, made public comments, made calls and participated in rallies in an effort to get the council to understand how these dangerous raids threaten our community and public safety.

For months, residents have been asking the St. Charles Council to prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from operating within our community. However, nothing has been done. Council members talk about meetings, discussions, concerns and planning more meetings about the issue. They say they care about the impact on individuals, families and our community. But that’s not enough.

Action is needed. We can’t and shouldn’t ignore what is happening here in our home.

The citizens of St. Charles elected the City Council to protect and improve our community. They did not elect representatives to just attend public and private meetings. They expect the council to do something. The communities that surround us — and across the state — are acting, not just speaking about valuing all their residents.

So, the question I ask is: What is the council going to do to protect St. Charles? When are they going to find the courage to take a stand?

Kathryn Winterhalter

St. Charles