Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify which groups run the tip line advertised at Village Hall and PASO West Suburban Action Project’s statement on ICE activity in Oak Park.
Oak Park’s village government has limited access to Village Hall’s parking lot after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents accessed the site.
The village confirmed to Wednesday Journal this week that on Friday, Sept. 12 at approximately 10:45 a.m., multiple ICE agents were in the parking lot of Village Hall, where members of the Oak Park Police Department approached and briefly spoke with the ICE agents present in the parking lot. The federal agents left the property after about 15 minutes “without issue,” according to village staff.
The village announced Friday, Sept. 19 that the village was restricting access to the parking lot.
“In order to ensure that the Village Hall parking lot is used only by Village of Oak Park staff and those community members requiring services from Village Hall, beginning today and until further notice, the two southern-most entrances into the Village Hall parking lot closest to Adams Street will be closed,” the village said in a statement. “The parking lot at 123 Madison St. is restricted for use only by vehicles of village employees and persons with business within Village Hall. Permitted vehicles must use the northernmost entrances closest to Village Hall to both enter and exit the parking lot. The two remaining entrances may be monitored by security staff pursuant to instructions provided by village staff.”
Oak Park has a sanctuary ordinance on its book that bars village employees from assisting ICE in any civil immigration investigation without a signed court order compelling them to do so.
Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal this week she appreciated village staff for handling the interaction with ICE responsibly and in accordance with the sanctuary ordinance.
“Village staff responded appropriately to protect our personnel and residents proactively,” she said. “The Village of Oak Park is informed, trained and prepared to stand by our sanctuary city ordinance.”
On Thursday, Sept. 18, the village released an additional statement on ICE’s presence in Oak Park.
“The village is aware of federal immigration activity in Oak Park, and we acknowledge that the increased presence and actions of federal immigration officers throughout the region presents not only disruption but also deep fear for many in our community,” the village said in the statement. “We’d also like to reaffirm that in accordance with the Welcoming Village Ordinance and the Illinois TRUST Act, the Village of Oak Park will not use village resources, including staff, to assist in the enforcement of civil federal immigration laws. This includes not inquiring about, recording, or disclosing an individual’s immigration status unless required by law. Every resident, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to access village services without fear of deportation or other immigration-related consequences.”
Yard signs with information on how to report sightings of ICE agents to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the Organized Communities Against Deportation hotlines, a local immigrant’s rights and social justice organization participating in a nationwide effort to document interactions with ICE.
Another local organization — PASO West Suburban Action Project — reported on Thursday that ICE agents had been present in Village Hall’s parking lot again.
“At approximately 10AM – 10:30AM, bystanders encountered Federal agent presence in Oak Park at Village Hall parking lot,” the agency said last week. “We believe that two detained individuals were transferred from one vehicle to another and driven out of Oak Park. We are at this time not reporting any additional sightings in Oak Park but remain vigilant and are patrolling. We are not able to confirm if there is continued enforcement in the area.”
Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw commented on the move via his official Facebook Friday afternoon.
“I am incredibly grateful for the leadership of Village President Vicki Scaman and for village staff taking quick action to ensure that our Welcoming Village Ordinance is truly meaningful,” he said. “It is a sad statement on our nation that barricades are necessary to demonstrate that we are a Welcoming Village. We are living in frightening times. President Trump is taking action to instill fear with the goal of preventing resistance. The fear you feel is a tool to silence you. Do not let your voice be silenced.”
