Darien Asked About Migrants Coming In

DARIEN, IL – For the time being, Darien will not enact an ordinance regulating buses carrying migrants coming from the border, the mayor said this week.

Mayor Joe Marchese was responding to questions from resident Joe Myczek.

During public comments, Myczek asked, "What is the city of Darien's policy regarding the issue of illegals being dropped off en masse in the city limits?"

He was referring to Texas taking migrants at the border to the Chicago area. Late last year, Chicago enacted rules for such buses, including their impoundment for violations.

Afterward, Texas started taking buses to suburbs with train stations, dropping off the migrants and paying for their train tickets to Chicago.

Marchese said no such buses have arrived locally because Darien has no train station or downtown. As such, he said the city sees no need to pass bus regulations.

"We could have it in our back pocket in the future," he said.

Marchese said he and other mayors are urging Congress to pass immigration legislation that would take care of the problems at the border.

"You can put a lot of money into taking care of those who are already here and those who are still coming, but that money is going to run out," Marchese said.

Myczek also asked about Darien's policy on whether it is a "sanctuary city." Such a status limits a town's cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Marchese said Illinois is a sanctuary state, so individual cities are not considered sanctuaries. He said then-Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner declared Illinois a sanctuary state in 2017.

Rauner did not use the words "sanctuary state," but he signed legislation effectively giving Illinois that status.

The law banned cooperation between police departments and immigration authorities. Without such a law, Rauner said, immigrants would be reluctant to report crimes to the police.

"It breaks my heart to see the senseless violence going on in our streets, especially when that violence is inflicted on innocent children," Rauner said in an August 2017 news release. "We need to prioritize our resources for the prevention of violent crime."

Most of Rauner's fellow Republicans disagreed with him, saying the new law encouraged illegal immigration.

At the Darien council meeting, Myczek said he was concerned about migrants using vacant buildings.

"I'm sure other citizens are concerned about what (the buildings) may be used for temporarily," he said. "It's happened in other communities. I think people are kind of concerned."

In Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, residents expressed fear of migrants before their governing bodies enacted bus regulations.

At a Jan. 2 special meeting of the Hinsdale Village Board, residents said migrants may spread illnesses and cause dangers to children. One woman said she saw two migrants wearing ankle bracelets, which she believed indicated that law enforcement was watching them.

A week earlier in Clarendon Hills, a resident warned village officials the migrants would not assimilate and would take away others' freedoms.

Soon after Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills acted, Western Springs took a different route. It announced it would ensure safe bus-to-train passage for migrants if they arrived in the village. Officials gave no signs they would pass bus rules.

In response, a Western Springs resident who is a financial executive in Chicago spoke at a Village Board meeting. He warned of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Chinese Communist Party entering town. And he said "foreign men" would pose dangers to local children.

"By aiding and comforting enemies of the United States, you are most likely committing treason," the resident, Chris Recker, told trustees.