La Grange Passes ICE Restrictions; Audience Applauds

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange trustees voted Monday for restrictions on ICE agents, joining outrage across the country over the immigration agency's methods.

The audience applauded.

In a meeting last month, the village president and trustees indicated they wanted such a measure.

The ordinance bans federal immigration agents from using village property, except rights-of-way, for their operations.

It also requires the village manager and the police to document each alleged violation of the policy.

More than a dozen people spoke up during public comments about the issue.

Resident Sandra Mosqueda, a behavioral health therapist, said ICE causes fear and lets people become targets of oppression and abuse of civil rights.

"If we allow ICE in our village, we will have the blood on our hands of those murdered," she said.

Another resident, Chris Moravec, said everyone in the room wants change. But he said the ordinance would not accomplish the village's purpose.

"This ordinance gives everybody some false hope in terms of what we can really do to keep ICE out of our town," Moravec said. "Our law enforcement isn't going to be able to go over there and tell a federal ICE agent that they need to leave. That puts the chief's staff in a very bad position on the street."

La Grange resident Taylor Hoffenberg was one of a couple of Lyons Township High School students to read a letter that they and some classmates drafted.

"Think about these immigrants who keep these amazing businesses up and running, which keeps the area so lively," Hoffenberg said. "The strength of our homes, neighborhood and community comes from the people who come together as one, regardless of who they are or who they once were."

The Village Board's vote was unanimous. Trustee Glenn Thompson was absent because of sickness.