Lake County board bars use of county lots, garages for federal immigration enforcement

The Lake County Board on Oct. 14 adopted a resolution prohibiting the use of county-owned parking lots, vacant lots and garages as staging areas, processing locations or operations bases for civil immigration enforcement.

Supporters of the resolution said it responds to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions around the county that residents and elected officials described as frightening and disruptive. Member Campos, who moved the resolution, said the measure is needed to protect residents and to make clear the county will not provide its property for those operations. "This resolution is badly needed," Campos said during debate.

The vote followed nearly three hours of public comment and board debate that included arguments about the scope of federal authority, the board's duty to protect residents, and the legal limits on local governments. State's Attorney Eric Reinhardt provided legal context during the meeting, citing United States v. Prince and advising that the County's statutory authorities and existing policies shaped what the county can and cannot do regarding use of its property…