Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained several individuals in the Chicago Heights and Crete area Monday, according to several officials.
ICE officers detained at least three people, including two customers and one employee, in the parking lot outside of Heights Fresh Market on Chicago Road at about 11 a.m. Monday, according to a store manager, who cited store footage.
Yadira Banuelos, a store employee, said officers arrested her coworker as he arrived for his shift Monday.
Another man who regularly sold Sabritsa chips outside the store was detained then released, according to a statement the market, posted on Facebook at 11:17 a.m. Tuesday.
Banuelos said Wednesday the man left his chip stand after the activity and had not returned as of Wednesday afternoon. She and a few other employees said they heard he might not return to selling the chips there for a while.
After the arrests Monday, Banuelos said a lot of customers called the store with questions, and business seemed slower than usual the rest of the day.
Store management posted on social media after the arrests and encouraged customers to use caution and avoid the area if it was not necessary to be there.
“Thank God they let him go,” read the post. “Let’s take care of each other and share this information to keep us safe.”
The Crete Police Department said multiple individuals from a construction crew near Berkshire and Stafford were detained Monday by federal immigration enforcement officers.
RLM Underground construction manager Shawn Davis said Wednesday about four to five people were detained between 10:30 and 11 a.m. from his construction crew, which he subcontracted from another company.
The crew was drilling conduit to install surf internet, but construction was halted after the workers were arrested. Davis said his company, along with another company on the job, Evolve Telecom, brought in additional workers from their company’s Midwest branches to continue the work on Tuesday. Some workers lived locally and others had to travel into town, he said.
Crete police said in a statement information was received and verified from workers that several members of the crew were taken into custody by ICE agents.
Officials also said the Police Department was contacted by several residents Monday regarding ICE sightings and activity within the village.
Police said officers contacted witnesses and gathered information related to these reports and found several of the reported sightings were either untrue or couldn’t be substantianted.
Crete officials also said the Police Department was never contacted by ICE and did not have notice of or assist in this operation. They noted Illinois law enforcement agencies are prohibited by the Illinois Trust Act from conducting or assisting in immigration only enforcement.
Crete police also said Illinois law enforcement can only assist ICE if a valid warrant exists, probable cause of a criminal act (other than immigration status) was committed or protection of ICE agents who are victims of crime.
“The Crete Police Department understands the sensitive nature of these matters and wants to assure the public that we are committed to being transparent in our role and the information we have regarding these encounters,” reads the statement. “The Crete Police Department is dedicated to communicating and sharing information with all residents, organizations, and businesses within our community.”
awright@chicagotribune.com
