City must go further to control ICE

On Jan. 20, the St. Charles City Council published a proclamation supporting constitutional principles, due process and human rights. This is a start, but it only reinforces what the city should be doing at all times anyway.

The council needs to take a more assertive stand against ICE’s unlawful arrests, kidnapping and safety hazards.

Immigrant families are living in fear. Parents are disappearing from jobs, children are being separated from their families and communities are being traumatized.

Beyond the distress caused within the community, ICE operations raise public safety concerns. ICE vehicles have traveled at excessive speeds through residential and commercial areas without emergency lights or visible license plates, presenting a clear risk to residents, pedestrians and other motorists.

Some folks say we should just let ICE do their job to protect us from dangerous criminals who shouldn’t be here. To be clear, anyone, regardless of immigration status, should be held accountable for violent crimes. But rather than following lawful processes to arrest criminals, ICE is rounding up people based on skin color, entering private property without warrants and detaining people with legal status. No government agency is above the law. Law without accountability is not law; it’s abuse of power.

The Council needs to acknowledge that ICE is not following the law. The council should use signage to protect city-owned property from allowing ICE agents to assemble and carry out raids. The council should stand firm in its obligation to protect and serve the city of St. Charles.

Ruth L. Kuzmanic

St. Charles