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Skokie residents press board to bar ICE from using village property; staff schedules full discussion Nov. 3
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Skokie Village Board on Oct. 21 to prohibit immigration enforcement agents from using village-owned property; the mayor said the village code already limits local assistance (Section 588a) and scheduled a formal discussion for Nov. 3.
At the Oct. 21 meeting dozens of residents used the public-comment period to urge the Village Board to stop immigration enforcement agents from using village property as staging areas. Commenters described sightings of masked agents near shopping centers and parking lots, reported follow-ups in neighboring municipalities and criticized delays in formal village action.
Mayor Tennis told the audience that the village received emails and comments about ICE activity and reminded the public that the village amended its code (Section 588a) in March to prohibit Skokie from "assisting with immigration enforcement by aiding or complying with immigration detainers, administrative warrants, or custody transfers, or providing access to village facilities for investigative or enforcement purposes without a criminal warrant," while noting the village’s jurisdictional limits over some public properties. He said the board will place the item on the Nov. 3 agenda for formal discussion and public comment.
Speakers described incidents they said involved federal agents in or near parking lots and bus stops, with some citing recent abductions in neighboring towns and urging immediate action rather than waiting until November. Marcy Shahinoglu, an attorney and Skokie resident, described a recent abduction in Morton Grove and said the detained person was being held at the Broadview processing center. Christina Fleck said she was concerned for her immigrant neighbors and asked the board to act on village property, including parking lots and the library. Multiple speakers asked the board to consider restricting use of village property, posting signage and coordinating with schools, houses of worship and neighboring jurisdictions.
Several speakers urged the board to adopt the same or similar measures passed by nearby jurisdictions (Cook County, Evanston, Chicago and Will County) rather than waiting. The mayor and staff said they will present a staff report and proposed draft language for consideration at the Nov. 3 meeting.
