Speakers and commissioners press Cook County to stop funding ICE; board refers resolution to Congress

Multiple public speakers and at least one commissioner used the public-comment period and floor time to denounce recent federal immigration-enforcement actions and call for limits on funding.

Marion Casillas, executive director of PASO Westwood Action Project, told the board, "We demand that ICE is not provided any more resources while they're here," and described incidents she said involved injury and death tied to ICE enforcement actions in suburban Cook County. Her testimony called for accountability and protection of immigrant civil rights.

Later in the meeting a commissioner introduced a resolution calling on members of Congress to stop funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. As the sponsor explained, "This resolution calls for the immediate stop of funding for immigration and custom enforcement and also customs and border patrol," and cited multiple local incidents and the perceived impact on community safety and trust.

Other commissioners expressed support and described witnessing enforcement operations and alleged mistreatment. Commissioner Aguilar said he had been at the Broadview detention center and described observing what he characterized as harassment and brutality by agents. Several speakers linked the proposed resolution to broader concerns about community safety and constitutional rights.

The transcript records the board referring a proposed resolution (identified in the agenda/record as legislation 02/1998) that urges Congress not to allocate additional funding to ICE and CBP, and indicates the resolution will be edited and sent to committee. The record shows a motion to refer and recorded agreement by the board, but does not record a final county policy to withhold county funds for federal enforcement.