Riverwoods Police confirm compliance with Illinois Trust Act amid regional ICE staging activity

Mayor Ford summarized a regional caucus briefing on municipal responses to ‘‘Operation Midway Blitz’’ and said the subject included limits on municipal use of property and the Illinois Trust Act. The mayor said the briefing included reports from the Illinois attorney general’s office and regional police chiefs about municipalities’ challenges responding to immigration-enforcement staging.

The police chief confirmed the department’s compliance and described a directive issued to officers: ‘‘The Riverwoods Police Department complies with all provisions of the Illinois Trust Act. In Illinois, local law enforcement generally cannot assist in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law...I specifically instructed my officers they are not to transfer any person into the custody of immigration agents. They are not, to grant immigration agents and agents access, either in person or by telephone, to individuals in our custody. They are not to permit immigration agents to use our facilities, equipment, or databases other than those available to the public...And they are not to provide collateral assistance to federal immigration agents, including but not limited to coordinating arrest, transporting individuals, or providing on-site support.’’

Mayor and staff said they have been in contact with neighboring police departments and will update the board as the situation evolves; trustees asked clarifying questions to confirm the village’s posture is compliance with state law and AG guidance.

Why it matters: the village's formal public-safety posture clarifies officer actions during regional immigration-enforcement activity and emphasizes public-safety priorities while explaining legal constraints under Illinois law.

Provenance: mayor’s caucus summary and the police chief’s directive are recorded at 00:53:11–00:56:55 in the transcript (topicintro/topicfinish).