Ordinance prohibiting ICE from staging on Downers Grove property up for vote Tuesday

An ordinance that would prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from staging on Downers Grove municipal property is expected be voted on at Tuesday’s village council meeting.

The proposed ordinance, which has been discussed in depth at two previous council meetings, also confirms a long-standing policy that the village does not share any of its data for immigration enforcement. Additionally, it ensures police will respond to calls for service when there is a concern about civil rights violations.

Commissioner Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt, who has championed passage of the ordinance, said “it sends a signal to our community that we’re dedicated to keeping people safe.”

Sadowski-Fugitt added that she has spoken to people involved with the local immigrant community. She said they understand the village is limited in what it can do when it comes to immigration enforcement, “but appreciate that the village and its leaders are standing up.”

“I’m really happy with how this turned out,” she said.

Commissioner Chris Gilmartin agreed.

“I think this ordinance, as my colleagues have said, captures what the intention of it is, which is to control what we can control,” he said.

“It’s not just the immigrants we’re looking to protect here. It’s also U.S. citizens who have been dragged from their homes, detained illegally.”

“Man, do I wish we weren’t having to do this.”

Mayor Bob Barnett said he would prefer that the contents of the proposed ordinance be in a resolution.

Barnett said it was important that the village does not send the wrong message.

“It’s important that we don’t cause anyone to think we’ve made Downers Grove safer,” he said.

He said it’s important for the council to demonstrate its values, but “we’re not changing anybody’s life at all.”

“The truth of the matter is, we don’t have the ability to stop ICE from doing anything in Downers Grove,” Barnett said.

So far, several other communities in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties have approved ordinances or resolutions prohibiting the use of municipal property for federal immigration enforcement activities, including Aurora, Arlington Heights, Batavia, Elgin, Hanover Park, West Chicago and Wheeling.