Hanover Park prohibits use of village property for federal immigration enforcement

Hanover Park officials Thursday joined the efforts of several other suburbs in prohibiting the use of village property for federal immigration enforcement.

Trustees’ unanimous approval of a carefully honed ordinance followed a couple meetings of debate on a measure aimed to be both effective and honest about Hanover Park’s authority to control the use of its property.

Village board members ultimately chose a more binding ordinance over a resolution. Though the peak of suburban activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers seems to have passed for now, Mayor Rod Craig believes Hanover Park’s action is far from too late.

“I don’t think it’s over,” he said. “I just think it may become more strategic. The politics aren’t going to change in the next two years. We have to be honorable, representing the people of Hanover Park.”

The Northwest suburb is an especially diverse one and bears the slogan, “America’s Global Village.”

Craig said he’s heard of two specific incidents of ICE activity within Hanover Park, but doesn’t believe they involved the use of municipal property the new ordinance specifically targets.

Nevertheless, he recognizes an important resolve in the measure trustees approved Thursday.

“I think the strength is the position of Hanover Park to support all its residents wherever they come from,” Craig said. “We don’t ask what country they come from. We say come to Hanover Park. We are a welcoming community. That’s who we are.”

Trustees also reaffirmed their views of their vote’s significance.

“When I initially proposed this ordinance, I did it in direct response to the dehumanizing and shameful ICE raids and tactics and operations that were happening in and around our community,” Trustee Yasmeen Bankole said. “I truly believe that when the federal government falters, it is up to state and local governments to step up to the plate.”

“I just want to echo those sentiments by Trustee Bankole,” Trustee Herb Porter added. “I think it’s important that when it’s all said and done, we find ourselves on the right side of history with this particular thing that’s going on in our nation and in our state.”

Craig said the village’s action isn’t intended to be partisan.

“It doesn’t get into the politics,” he said of the ordinance. “It’s just about the people of Hanover Park. It’s fair, it’s just and it’s right.”