The Kane County Legislative Committee voted Wednesday to send a resolution "in support of immigrant rights, human dignity, and fair reform in Kane County" to the county’s executive committee after public testimony from residents and a brief amendment to the resolution’s title.

The resolution, discussed at the committee’s Oct. 22 meeting, was revised during the meeting to remove the word "authorizing" from the title and from the text. Committee member Strathman moved the change and was seconded; the committee proceeded to vote to advance the measure.

Residents who addressed the committee urged the county to affirm protections for immigrants and to call for accountability and limits on federal enforcement activity in community spaces. Denise Thiebaud, a resident who said she had observed recent immigration enforcement actions in the area, described people being detained and transported to a detention center and said, "These raids are happening right here in our community" and called for "dignity, due process, and fairness."

Brenda Sanchez, a resident and small-business owner, told the committee that enforcement actions have had economic effects in her neighborhood, saying her family’s multi-generation business is losing employees because people are afraid to go to work: "My business is also losing in the sense that it's trickling down."

Chair Michelle Gumbs opened the public-comment period and later presided over the committee discussion on the resolution. During the meeting, committee member Greipe offered a verbal amendment to add language affirming support for law enforcement that complies with the constitution; Greipe’s proposed addition was not seconded and therefore was not considered by the committee.

Following discussion, committee members took a roll call on the resolution as amended to remove the word "authorizing." The clerk recorded supporting votes from members listed on the record at the time of the roll call, and the committee voted to move the resolution forward to the executive committee for further consideration.

The committee also indicated staff would circulate letters and coordinate with other counties and associations on related legislative priorities, including maintaining local control over zoning matters raised later in the meeting.

The committee meeting lasted roughly under an hour and included three public commenters who addressed the immigrant-rights resolution during the public-comment period. The resolution will next be considered by the Kane County executive committee.