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Residents report immigration enforcement activity; village officials cite limits under state law
Summary
Several residents described recent immigration enforcement actions in Round Lake Beach, saying family members and workers were detained in public locations. Village officials said local police are limited by state law and the TRUST Act but pledged to coordinate community resources and messaging.
Several Round Lake Beach residents urged the village to act after saying immigration agents detained people in public locations over the weekend, leaving families and merchants fearful.
"Immigration agents were in our town recently, and people that we know were taken right in the Round Lake area," resident JC Ochoa told the board during public participation, describing detentions near Home Depot, Walmart and other neighborhood locations and saying some workers were shoved and racially profiled.
The comments prompted questions about what the village can do to protect residents. Deputy Chief Tim Schuster said local law enforcement is guided by state statute and the Illinois TRUST Act, which limits local participation in civil immigration enforcement. "Without a warrant, our state statute says we're not allowed to assist," Schuster said.
Village Administrator Scott Hilt and other officials reiterated that federal authorities may conduct operations without notifying local police and that local police therefore may not have detailed information about specific federal actions. Hilt said the village has been responding by increasing local presence in neighborhoods and that trustees and staff will coordinate a unified message and a vetted list of local resources for residents.
Resident Alma Gonzalez asked whether the mayor would issue a public statement of support and whether the village could publish a resource list for residents. Hilt said he would gather information from trustees, the chief and relevant departments and circulate a unified set of resources and guidance.
Board members and residents also discussed immediate volunteer efforts. A volunteer event to distribute food to families was announced for Wednesday, 4:30–6:30 p.m. at McGee School; organizers said they would deliver food to households that do not come to the site.
No formal policy change or directive to the police department was made during the meeting. Officials said they would communicate with the mayor and chief and return with coordinated guidance and resources.
