Ban ICE From Village Property, Immigrant Project Urges Bolingbrook

BOLINGBROOK, IL — After a 40-year-old Bolingbrook man was taken into custody by federal agents, including ICE agents, inside Bolingbrook Police Department, Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project is calling for the Village to pass an ordinance banning ICE and federal agents from using village property for immigration enforcement.

"This week what SSIP has been warning against occurred again on the grounds of Village of Bolingbrook property," the nonprofit, which is headquartered in Bolingbrook, said in a release. "Federal agents, at least one of them fully masked, took a Bolingbrook resident as he was seeking help at the Bolingbrook Police Department."

Bolingbrook Police has said that the resident was arrested inside the police department after he went to the department to report an incident with law enforcement agents.

The agents told police the man was ordered to identify himself and exit the vehicle. The man refused the agents’ orders and drove through the grass before intentionally ramming an agent’s vehicle head-on, while it was parked with its emergency lights activated, federal agents told police.

After taking the man into custody, the agents left the police department. Police said the federal agents are not seeking charges related to the criminal damage to property report taken by the Bolingbrook Police Department.

SSIP has stated in a release that the Bolingbrook resident was leaving his home on his way to work when he was approached by unidentified masked men. The organization says the men were fully armed and used violence to try and get the resident out of his car, shattering his front driver's side window and perforating the car door.

"The Bolingbrook resident called family members, and also asked for help in a community group, through which we were alerted and learned of the unfolding situation," the nonprofit said.

SSIP said the man went to the police department, and while waiting inside the lobby, federal agents came inside to conduct a "warrantless arrest."

Bolingbrook Police also said the agents did not possess a warrant for the man, but took him into custody for the incident that happened on Hywood Lane.

"Bolingbrook Police arrived on scene shortly after, and proceeded to take a report for the federal agents’ alleged story, when the priority should have been ensuring due process was taking place. Our rapid response team arrived as well and began recording," the nonprofit said. "A federal agent in the parking lot, pointed a gun at our patroller while in their car. We made a police report and are working to make sure this is fully investigated, and we are calling for a full investigation to ensure the IL Trust Act was fully upheld."

“Instances like these further exacerbate fear and erode trust in local law enforcement,” said Marcos Ceniceros, executive director of Warehouse Workers for Justice. “Working, immigrant families that call Bolingbrook home, deserve to feel safe, but while BPD has publicly stated the police department lobby is a public space, and that they followed protocol-- the fact is they were, unfortunately, not prepared for a highly sensitive situation, especially as violence in immigration enforcement continues to escalate across the country.”

The nonprofit is calling on the Village to act on several recommendations, including adopting a use of property rule that prohibits the use of village-owned property, like parking lots, buildings, vacant lots and parks — for civil immigration enforcement; installing clear signage to prevent unauthorized staging; establishing internal procedures & training for municipal staff; and partnering with SSIP to amplify and make Know Your Rights training and resources accessible to the community at large.

“SSIP has advocated for a welcoming village ordinance since at least 2017, and early last year we renewed these conversations given the heightened level of immigration enforcement,” said Elizabeth Cervantes, associate executive director of SSIP. “We have made good faith efforts for an open and transparent line of communication and have met with village leadership consistently in the last year to ensure there was coordination and an adequate plan in place. The guidance that was issued to the community by village leadership so far, such as calling 911 if a resident feels unsafe, while well-intended, is simply not a real nor sustainable solution, and we must measure up to the historic moment we’re in.”

“As the Trump administration escalated on our neighbors, we saw cities and towns across Illinois step up to take action,” said Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). “ICE continues to target our families and disrupt daily life for citizens and non-citizens alike. Local leaders can meet this moment by passing strong welcoming ordinances that give the clarity and guidance needed to ensure public safety and trust.”