The Lake Bluff Village Board has formally adopted new procedures governing how village officials respond to federal immigration enforcement activities, following reports of recent activities by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in neighboring communities as part of Operation Midway Blitz.
After discussions at previous meetings and initial approval last month, trustees unanimously voted for final adoption of the ordinance at their Dec. 8 meeting.
“I think this is a well-thought-out protection for not only residents of Lake Bluff but also for visitors and workers in the area,” Trustee Brian Rener said.
The ordinance includes four primary components. First, it affirms the village’s commitment to creating a community where citizens, documented immigrants and undocumented individuals are treated with respect and dignity.
Second, Lake Bluff law enforcement officers may not enforce federal civil immigration laws and are generally prohibited from taking certain actions that would assist in such enforcement. In addition, all village employees must comply with the Illinois Trust Act, which restricts state and local agencies from participating in civil immigration enforcement.
“It is improving the safety and the clarity for many of our public servants,” Trustee Taryn Fisher said. “It makes clear for our community what can and cannot be done and helps people feel safe.”
Third, the ordinance places restrictions on the use of village-owned facilities, equipment, land and resources for civil immigration enforcement activities.
Finally, the village will make free signage language, such as downloadable PDFs, available to private property owners who wish to prohibit civil immigration enforcement activities on their property. The provision was revised from the original proposal, which would have provided physical signs, after trustees expressed a preference for offering electronic materials only.
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Village officials emphasized that the policies do not affect criminal enforcement of immigration matters.
“We will comply, of course, with criminal warrants,” Trustee Susan Rider said.
Claire Dietz, an official with a Lake County family resource center that works with immigrants, voiced support for the ordinance during public comment.
“These agents are terrorizing our communities and they are creating a warzone-like atmosphere that does harm to our residents, neighbors and everyone,” Dietz said.
The measure also drew opposition from resident John Zavitz, who argued that the ordinance amounts to a political statement and exceeds what is required under state law.
“It looks so innocent, but this ordinance codifies resistance to the federal government,” Zavitz said. “Are we proposing a solution that’s looking for a problem? I believe so.”
Zavitz added that a memorandum from the village administrator would have been sufficient to address the issue.
Following the meeting, Police Chief Matt Smizinski said he was not aware of any ICE activity occurring within Lake Bluff.
Trustee Raffi Elchemmas, who voted in favor of the ordinance during its initial approval at the November meeting but questioned whether the board should be addressing broader societal issues, was absent from the Dec. 8 meeting. Trustee Katharine Hatch was also not present.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.