Berwyn council adopts proclamation protecting city property from federal immigration activity, debates Flock camera contract

Berwyn City Council members adopted a proclamation forbidding the use of city-owned entities for federal immigration enforcement and moved to draft tighter local limits on immigration-related operations on city property, city leaders said at the Oct. 2025 meeting. The council also considered a separate resolution to suspend and terminate the city's contract with Flock Group Inc., the license-plate reader vendor, a measure that resulted in an 4-4 roll call before the mayor intervened.

The proclamation, introduced by Mayor Robert J. Libero and co-drafted with City Clerk Leticia Garcia, affirms that "city-owned entities and facilities shall not be used to facilitate federal immigration enforcement operations, including but not limited to staging or operational activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)," and passed on a voice roll call.

The issue came after more than a dozen residents described recent encounters they said involved federal immigration officers and heavy police responses. Speakers said community volunteers handing out "know your rights" materials outside Morton West High School were confronted by Berwyn police, and several commentators recounted reported ICE detentions at local intersections, businesses and near schools.

Deputy Chief Michael W. Fellows told the council the Berwyn Police Department maintains control over its Flock license-plate reader data and said…