Cook County Homeland Security Command Van Moved Amid Complaints

EVANSTON, IL — A Cook County command van was moved away from a street festival Saturday in Evanston after the presence of the large Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management vehicle at the Custer Street Fair prompted protests from residents.

The logo for the county emergency management agency, DHSEM, bears some similarity to that of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly called ICE. Some residents complained that instead of increasing the sense of safety among fair attendees, the vehicle needlessly intimidated community members.

In social media posts, Evanston's police and fire departments announced they were working with the city's Office of Emergency Management and the Cook County homeland security department to provide security for the Custer Fair, including the command van and proactive barricades.

"This van is no way affiliated with ICE — Immigration and Customs Enforcement," police pointed out.

The mobile command center was subsequently replaced by a city-operated dump truck. Residents said it was relocated to a car dealership parking lot following complaints by neighbors.

Mayor Steve Hagerty responded with a message of support for the van.

"Public safety and being a welcoming city are not mutually exclusive. The City’s priority is keeping people safe at the Custer Street Fair, not monitoring people for ICE," Hagerty responded on social media. "I appreciate Cook County providing this Command Center."

In October 2017, the mayor signed an updated "Welcoming City Ordinance" that protects people in the country illegally from being held by federal immigration authorities without a warrant signed by a federal judge. Hagerty has also operated an emergency management consulting company for the past 18 years.

"Should anything go wrong (e.g., weather, man made event, etc.), having a command center nearby is helpful for the emergency response. The Center can also be used proactively to monitor the weather at that specific location. The vehicle is not used in any way as part of immigration enforcement," Hagerty said, in an emailed response to concerned residents.

The mayor noted the command center had appeared in Evanston at previous occasions and said city officials would look to give the public the opportunity to check it out during a non-event in the future to see how it helps emergency responders.

"Nonetheless, we understand the size, location, and presence of this vehicle at Custer Street alarmed some people, particularly given the national focus on immigration," Hagerty said. "To address these concerns, show more sensitivity towards our immigrant neighbors, and ensure strong economic activity for our vendors and businesses, in the future we will not use this type of vehicle as a barricade but instead, when we have it, place it nearby in a less public and prominent location."

Over the past 18 months, the Unified Command Post, or UCP, has been used 41 times for events and festivals across 29 different municipalities in the past 18 months, according to information from county officials provided by Fire Chief Brian Scott. He said the post provides assistance monitoring weather and emergency medical services needs, as well as functioning as a unified emergency management center should something go seriously wrong.

"The mobile unified command center is an $830,000 asset with six on-board computer work stations and state of the art mobile communications suite that helps ensure interoperability. It also includes thermal imaging, a weather monitoring and incident management tools to assist fire and police officers," Scott said. Out of respect for some of the concerns raised by residents, he said, it was relocated Sunday to a block north of the fair.

"Given our most recent experience at the 2019 [Custer Street Fair], we will make sure to consider and be sensitive to the concerns raised by the immigrant community and their supporters," Scott said. "Future steps could include pre-education opportunities for the entire Evanston community to see and visit the UCP to learn more about the vehicle as well as strategically placing the vehicle at future events in a less prominent location while still being able to utilize the UCP’s full capability."

Several residents commented in response that people left or did not attend the fair due to the presence of the Cook County vehicle, which could have been mistaken for one operated by federal immigration enforcement authorities.

"I am very disappointed the city decided to bring this command truck without thinking of the [trauma] it is putting our immigrant families through," one Evanston resident said. "We have many resources in Evanston. Our city officials need to think of the decisions it makes if they expect our immigrant community to trust them."

"My family won't be attending the fair because we feel unwelcome," said a Chicago resident. "This is NOT normal and this is NOT ok. Don’t try to normalize it with this lame post. This is totally tone deaf and damaging to the relationship the police force has with the community. Do better."

Though dozens of commentators were critical of the presence of the vehicle, several people suggested those outraged by its presence were overreacting.

"Does anybody remember Nice France," 8th Ward Ald. Ann Rainey asked, a reference to a 2016 vehicular attack on a large outdoor Bastille Day celebration. She said the trailer had been misinterpreted. "It was used at [Northwestern University's Dillo Day] without comment. Evanston is a wonderful caring City, and I know of no one who lives in fear here. I believe 99% of the population would back me up on that statement."

"Stop being such a bunch of cry babies and get on with your lives and grow up," said a retired Evanston police officer. "The van not going to hurt you, it's there for your protection. If you don’t want to attend, then don't."

President Donald Trump announced Monday night in a social media post that ICE would "begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States. They will be removed as fast as they come in."