University pauses in-person classes at Oak Brook campus after ICE moves into building

Lewis University paused in-person classes at its Oak Brook campus this week, as the university figures out how to deal with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement using office space inside the building.

The Romeoville-based university announced Saturday that classes in the building would go online, and those that couldn’t would be canceled until Feb. 21.

“The move was just a temporary move, a chance to refocus on what alternatives and accommodations we could make to provide a welcoming and inclusive learning environment to all our students,” said Kathrynne Skonicki, the university’s executive director for public relations and communications.

Skonicki said the university learned Saturday, via social media posts related to a Wired.com article, that ICE vehicles were in the building’s parking lot. The posts referenced potential protests, according to Skonicki. The university then confirmed with its landlord that ICE has leased offices.

The university was concerned about the safety of students and faculty.

Lewis has rented space in the office building along 22nd Street since 2013. The eight-story building is west of Oakbrook Center mall.

Lewis teaches undergraduate nursing and radiography classes at the campus, plus master’s degree programs in several disciplines, including criminal justice, business and finance, at its Oak Brook campus. There are 11 classrooms, laboratories and practice rooms for the nursing and radiography programs, a lounge, and conference rooms. About 500 students take classes there.

The university’s headquarters is in Romeoville. It has had a satellite in Oak Brook for 47 years, Skonicki said.

ICE officials refused to confirm it had rented the space.

“ICE will not confirm office locations as our officers are facing a coordinated campaign of violence against them including an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a 1,300% increase in assaults against them,” a spokesman said in response to a request for information.

“Is it really news that when a federal agency hires more personnel that they need more space? Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country. That’s a 120% increase in our workforce.”

Oak Brook President Village Laurence Herman told ABC 7 Chicago that ICE will not have a detention facility in the village.