Residents urge Waukegan to adopt executive order banning ICE from city property; council agrees to draft options

A series of public commenters at the Oct. 20 Waukegan City Council meeting urged the mayor and aldermen to adopt an executive order or ordinance to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on city property. Speakers described recent enforcement actions they characterized as aggressive and called for the city to create an “ICE‑free” zone for city‑owned spaces.

Members of immigrant‑advocacy organizations, faith leaders and residents told the council they have observed ICE presence around neighborhoods, workplaces and transit areas and asked the city to follow Lake County and North Chicago, which had earlier acted on related measures. Several speakers requested that the city explicitly ban federal immigration enforcement on city property and collaborate with the school district, park district and other local bodies to form a coordinated response.

Mayor Sam Cunningham and multiple aldermen acknowledged the concerns and said they would present options to the council. One alderman said a resolution or executive order would be an important symbolic and legal step despite enforcement challenges at the federal level; another said staff would draft language and examine legal implications and potential collaboration with other jurisdictions. Council members noted that an ordinance may not prevent federal enforcement off city property, but could limit use of city facilities and resources by federal agents and provide a basis for subsequent legal action.

Speakers at the meeting included community organizers and representatives from local immigrant‑support groups; several council members indicated they would seek a draft resolution to bring forward soon. No ordinance or executive order was adopted at the Oct. 20 meeting; the matter was left for staff and elected officials to develop options for a future meeting.