Oak Park officials said a law enforcement helicopter recently seen flying over the Eisenhower Expressway was not related to federal immigration enforcement.
Oak Park officials said that the helicopter reportedly seen by residents over the expressway was a Cook County Sheriff’s Officer (CCSO) aircraft conducting aerial traffic enforcement operations aimed at cracking down on motorists driving on the shoulder of the highway.
Last week, CCSO said it had ticketed 900 drivers since June for driving on the shoulder of expressways. The law enforcement agency has increased its highway patrol efforts to address ongoing concerns about unsafe driving, according to a video posted on social media by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
At least 49 of those drivers were caught on video in footage taken from the CCSO helicopter, according to the agency.
The village issued the statement to make it clear that the helicopter was not one being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Border Patrol for federal immigration enforcement operations. The village said that there has been little communication from those federal agencies regarding local enforcement operations, and that the village is committed to not assisting in any of that enforcement in line with both state and village sanctuary ordinances.
“The Village of Oak Park is aware of ongoing immigration enforcement activities conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies in the area, the village said in a statement. “These agencies have not provided prior notice or communication to Village officials or the Police Department. Under the Illinois TRUST Act, Oak Park Police are prohibited from participating in or assisting federal immigration enforcement. Officers are fully trained on the TRUST Act and the Village’s Welcoming Ordinance, which clarify that while local police do not enforce federal immigration laws, they retain full authority to enforce state laws and local ordinances. These responsibilities are essential to maintaining community safety and should not be mistaken for immigration enforcement.”
