Palatine leaders hope to rebuild trust in wake of immigration arrests

Palatine is taking steps to address community concerns stemming from recent federal immigration enforcement in the village, including a resolution, an online resources page and the creation of a focus group.

The village council on Monday will vote on the resolution, which states the mayor, village council and village staff do not condone the tactics of federal agents that have been witnessed by the community.

“The stress that recent federal actions have caused on our community is creating fear and eroding the trust that the Village and law enforcement have built through the past several decades,” the resolution reads.

The online page includes an FAQ that addresses the Illinois TRUST Act, advises people of their rights, and shares resources such as Partners for Our Communities and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights.

Village residents have raised concerns about immigration enforcement in recent weeks, including the arrest of a man near Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School last week. Residents also protested outside the police department after an officer assisted three federal agents who were struggling to make an arrest outside a strip mall Oct. 27.

Police Chief William Nord later said the officer intervened because he believed the agents’ tactics, with one agent kneeling on the person's back and neck, were dangerous and could cause serious injury.

The planned focus group will bring together parts of the community.

“The proof of the pudding is going to be six weeks from now, 12 weeks from now, 20 weeks from now,” village council member Scott Lamerand said. “This isn’t going to be a short-term effort. It’s to get people back into a community that they feel safe in. And certainly we haven’t felt that way in the last couple weeks.”

Resident Justin O’Rourke, who earlier proposed an ordinance banning immigration agents from using village property, said it is important the Hispanic population of Palatine has a seat at the table.

“The Hispanic community is, of all immigrants in Palatine, the community that's being hit the hardest by this,” he said. “'It’s a really substantial portion of the population that has no representation whatsoever on the village council.”