Elgin council meeting paused twice following interruptions from residents frustrated with federal immigration enforcement tactics

Growing public frustration regarding immigration enforcement activities in Elgin erupted during Wednesday’s city council meeting, with shouts and chants from the audience that resulted in the chamber being cleared twice.

The first brief stoppage occurred at the start of the 7 p.m. meeting. The second, which lasted more than 45 minutes, followed a series of passionate and at times vitriolic public comments.

A half-dozen people spoke not only to condemn the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a recent action on the 1600 block of Maple Lane on Dec. 6. The speakers also criticized what they perceived to be a lack of support from the city and its police department.

Angel Manuel Martinez said he suffered a fractured rib when multiple ICE agents took him to the ground while he and others protested the arrest of Luis Jesus Acosta Gutierrez.

Federal officials characterized Acosta Gutierrez as “an illegal alien from Venezuela and suspected member of Tren de Aragua,” a claim numerous friends, family and his attorney have disputed.

“On Dec. 6, the city of Elgin and this leadership failed us. This council, the police force,” Martinez said. “Our kids are asking us, ‘Are you coming home today? Is it going to be you today?’ You guys failed us.”

Delani Hernandez said both she and her brother were “tear gassed and pepper-sprayed” by agents at the scene, “simply because of the color of our skin, simply because we’re Brown.”

“We don’t feel safe, we don’t feel heard, we don’t feel protected,” Hernandez said. “I need to know, what can we do? What will you guys do? What will police do to keep me, my family, our children, the next generation, safe?”

Chants, including “No Justice, No Peace,” following the comments caused Mayor David Kaptain to order the chamber cleared, resulting in the 45-minute stoppage.

Police Chief Ana Lalley and other police officers spent that time engaging with meeting attendees to answer their concerns about ICE enforcement activities occurring in the city.

On Thursday, City Manager Rick Kozal said he understood the sentiment people expressed during the meeting, but defended the Elgin Police Department’s response.

“Elgin’s police officers — not unlike police officers across the state — are constrained by laws that prevent them from intervening in the wholly reprehensible and potentially unconstitutional actions by ICE agents in the Elgin community,” Kozal said.

Kozal said the city is planning a town-hall meeting for early January regarding immigration enforcement efforts in Elgin. He said he and Lalley speak daily about the issue.

“I commend Elgin’s police officers for continuing to do all within the law to protect the community they have sworn to serve, and for not succumbing to the deplorable conduct that plagues federal civil immigration enforcement,” he said.

Kozal dismissed a suggestion by one speaker that 911 calls from Latino residents are going unanswered.

“The allegation that the city’s 911 emergency call center screens calls and does not respond to Latinos is preposterous and does not dignify further response,” he said.