Hanover Park trustees back community town hall, outreach after reports of immigration enforcement and misinformation

Hanover Park trustees discussed steps to reassure immigrant residents and counter misinformation at their June 23 meeting, agreeing that the village should hold public education events and targeted outreach after recent reports of immigration-enforcement activity.

Trustee Gutierrez said a village-led outreach would “help squash all these rumors when it comes from the dais to let people know what’s really happening,” and argued the village should reiterate protections under the trust act and immigrant rights advice already shared online.

The board’s discussion came after several trustees and staff described social-media posts and community reports alleging enforcement activity in town and widespread, often erroneous online speculation. Trustees and staff focused on two practical steps: distribute informational materials at the village’s large July community event and plan a separate town-hall–style session for detailed legal and policing explanations.

Village Manager Juliana said she would return with specific options. “I’m hearing an openness to do this. My suggestion would be coming back to you with some suggestions on dates, times, locations, etcetera,” she said.

Trustees suggested using the village’s Cops Day picnic—scheduled for July 18—as a vehicle to distribute brochures and publicize a follow-up town hall, noting the picnic draws a broad cross-section of residents. “That event is also an opportunity to provide information to the village. There’s gonna be so many people,” one trustee said during the discussion about combining outreach efforts with the picnic.

At the same time trustees emphasized the need for a separate, quieter forum where residents could ask questions and receive authoritative answers from village leaders, police and legal experts. Several trustees argued such a session should not be held inside a police station, saying a police-department location could discourage attendance. “If you host a ‘know your rights’ event at a police department, it will affect attendance,” a trustee said.

Trustees also raised the broader communications challenge: how to respond quickly to misinformation on social media. One trustee recommended creating a rapid-response process to correct false posts and push accurate information out through the village and police department channels.

Chief Mano and other staff signaled willingness to participate in public events and to include police representatives in messaging that emphasizes residents should still call 911 and that the police department will respond. Trustees asked that any town-hall format be designed so legal experts can explain the law without offering individualized legal advice, and so that the messaging is sensitive to children and families who may attend larger community events.

The board did not set a date for a standalone town hall. Juliana will return to the board with proposed dates, formats and locations; trustees voiced support for distributing materials and publicizing the session at the July 18 Cops Day picnic while holding a separate, moderated town hall for detailed questions.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda accepted (motion and second recorded; roll call in favor; motion passed). - Consent agenda items 7A1–7A6 approved (roll call in favor; motion passed). - Warrant dated 06/23/2025 for $1,301,308.12 approved (motion and second; roll call in favor; motion passed). - Warrant in advance covering 05/30/2025–06/13/2025 for $477,538.50 approved (motion and second; roll call in favor; motion passed). - Motion to enter executive session under category “2 c 1” (employment and compensation) approved (motion and second; roll call in favor; motion passed).

The board’s conversation also included recognition of recent community events: trustees thanked the Sister Cities Committee and staff for the village’s Juneteenth celebration and noted heavy staff and public-works involvement at outdoor events. Trustees praised public-works crews and police for on-site assistance during Juneteenth and suggested continuing to use large public gatherings to disseminate information while holding separate forums when residents need direct legal and policing answers.

The board did not adopt new ordinances or formal policy changes at the meeting; its next step is for the village manager to present specific town-hall proposals for the board’s consideration.