La Grange Wants ICE To Stay Off Property

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange is considering an ordinance that would ban federal agents from using village property for civil immigration operations.

The Village Board is set to vote on the proposed ordinance during its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Village Hall. At the meeting, residents can comment on the issue before the vote.

The proposal states, "(T)he President and Board of Trustees find that building and maintaining a community that treats all persons, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin, with respect and dignity is in line with the public policy of the Village and the principles upon which the United States was founded."

The proposed ordinance states that it does not stop village employees from cooperating with immigration agents who have valid criminal warrants.

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

Other suburbs have enacted similar ordinances.

Last week, Village President Mark Kuchler and two trustees expressed openness to such a "welcoming" ordinance. Kuchler said he was having a "hard time remaining quiet" about what ICE is doing.