ICE Faces Villa Park Backlash In Pursuing Man

VILLA PARK, IL – ICE agents wanted to capture a man who ran into a Villa Park gym last month, but they faced people who were apparently not fans of the federal agency.

That's according to a Villa Park police report, which Patch obtained through a public records request.

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During the morning of June 17, Villa Park police were told about ICE agents near VASA Fitness, 300 W. North Ave.

An ICE agent told an officer that his agency tried to stop the driver of a Kia, but the driver went over a curb, stopped in front of Vasa and entered the gym, police said.

The driver was identified as a 32-year-old Hispanic man.

The agents entered the gym, but Vasa employees told them to leave.

ICE agents said the man failed to show up in court for a domestic battery case and that the agency had an "administrative warrant" for him, police said.

Such a warrant is created by ICE itself and not approved by a judge.

A Villa Park officer told ICE agents that local police could not help agents with their effort, according to the report. The officer was following a state law that bars police from cooperating with federal authorities on immigration enforcement.

Meanwhile, a man and a woman approached the agents. The man constantly blew a whistle and shouted vulgar statements, police said.

And the woman recorded the agents, placing her phone within inches of an agent's face and yelling at them, police said.

An employee told police that Vasa could not allow the agents in without a valid warrant. The employee then called 911 for help.

The officer spoke to Vasa's district manager, telling him that the police could issue a no-trespass notice to the 32-year-old man.

The district manager said he did not know whether the man was a member. The manager said he would look into that.

The ICE agents then left.

A document online contains the Vasa chain's policy on dealing with ICE agents. It appeared the local staff complied with it.

A Vasa employee who did not identify herself to Patch said Wednesday the police report accurately reflected the incident. She did not comment further.