Lake Bluff trustees have taken a formal step toward establishing policies governing how the village responds to potential actions by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, though some residents question whether it is an issue the board should address.
At their Nov. 24 meeting, trustees unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance outlining village procedures in light of Operation Midway Blitz, a controversial federal immigration crackdown in which officers have detained numerous people, including some in nearby communities.
After reviewing the matter at two previous meetings, trustees advanced an ordinance that includes:
- A statement affirming that Lake Bluff is a community where all people — regardless of immigration status — are treated with respect and dignity.
- Direction that village employees, including law enforcement, must comply with the 2017 Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits state and local agencies from participating in civil immigration enforcement.
- Restrictions on the use of village-owned property, barring garages, parking lots and other spaces from being used as staging areas, processing sites or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement.
Trustees also amended one component, opting to provide residents with electronic signage, such as PDFs, if they want to post notices prohibiting civil immigration enforcement on their property, rather than supplying printed signs.
While municipalities may adopt their own ordinances, Village Attorney Peter Friedman reminded the board that Lake Bluff cannot interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
“This ordinance tries to thread that needle so that it is focused on the restrictions on the use of village property,” he said.
Trustee Susan Rider reiterated that the ordinance concerns only civil enforcement and does not prevent cooperation when legally required.
“We will, of course, do what we need to do to follow the criminal process,” she said.
Village President Regis Charlot, who was absent, submitted a letter indicating support for the ordinance.
“This is not about taking a position on immigration policy,” Charlot wrote. “Rather, it is about recognizing a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution: that all individuals on U.S. soil — citizens and non-citizens alike — are entitled to due process and a fair opportunity to defend their rights.”
Trustee Raffi Elchemmas, while voting in favor, questioned whether the village board should be weighing in on broader societal issues.
“I’m adamantly against turning our village into a social issues community,” he said. “I believe I was elected by 560 of my neighbors to address roads, sewers, bridges, bluffs, and our infrastructure.”
Rider agreed the board was not elected to take on political debates, but said the ordinance clearly defines operational policy.
“It is something more than a symbolic gesture,” she said.
Resident Peter White again voiced concerns, as he had at an earlier meeting, about the necessity of an ordinance.
“The ordinance seems to be overkill,” he said. “Anything more than this is aspirational, symbolic, and most likely unenforceable, serving only as a political interest rather than addressing the real issues of the village.”
After the meeting, Police Chief Matt Smizinski said he was not aware of any immigration enforcement activity occurring in Lake Bluff.
A final vote on the ordinance is expected at the board’s Dec. 8 meeting.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
