Joliet Mayor: City Does Not Summon ICE

JOLIET, IL - The presence of federal agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Joliet over the weekend caused some fear and confusion around Joliet's Hispanic community. The situation was exploited when an anonymous Facebook page, that is believed to be operated by a former Joliet politician, posted photos and proclaimed that the city and Will County had called in ICE.

Later on Saturday night, after the Facebook post was shared by dozens of Joliet residents, the posting was updated to remove any reference to the city of Joliet asking ICE to visit the community.

Still, a number of people reached out to Joliet Patch over the weekend inquiring about the incident.

"We would like to know what is ice doing in joliet?" one person wrote.

"Hi Joliet patch, what information do you have on ICE being in east side joliet today?" another wrote.

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said, "The city of Joliet has nothing to do with this ... It's not what Joliet Police do. Federal law enforcement is an independent agency."

The mayor said it's his understanding ICE may have been in Joliet looking for a specific person or persons, no different than if the federal law enforcement agency went to any other community as part of their job.

Image via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor