INACCURATE HEADLINES, STORY CAUSE ORDINANCE CONFUSION
Thank you for highlighting the proposed Naperville Due Process and Municipal Property Use Ordinance. The goal of immigrants and advocates is to set boundaries on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection activity in our city. We want to de-escalate destabilization, chaos and violence by armed federal immigration presence.
I read the April 8, 2026, online article by Carolyn Stein with the headline “Naperville declines to ban ICE from city property despite request from immigrant advocates.” This headline was incorrect and circulated on local social media, spreading misinformation.
The headline was corrected to “City cites concerns over effort to ban ICE,” which is true; however, the “Officials not willing to back ordinance but plan to boost communication” subhead is misleading.
There was no “yes or no” vote on the ordinance, which was not on the agenda. The Naperville City Council voted 9-0 to direct staff to review the proposal and to continue discussion of the issue in May. No decision on the ordinance has been made.
The proposed ordinance affirms the city’s commitment to constitutional rights, prohibits the use of city property for civil immigration enforcement and emphasizes community safety. It also enforces compliance with judicial warrants, mandates documentation of violations and directs administrative procedures for enforcement.
It aligns with state statutes, ensuring city resources focus on local concerns while safeguarding individual rights under the 1st, 4th and 14th amendments. Comments at the meeting and in the story failed to reflect that the Supremacy Clause is NOT “the supreme law of the land” when illegal federal actions take place.
The misleading headlines, bias and omissions in the story are stirring up division in our community. The public deserves accuracy. This proposal affects the safety and lives of Naperville residents and should be covered accurately.
Karen V. Peck, Naperville
PROPOSED ORDINANCE OFFERS GUIDANCE, NOT GUARANTEES
I appreciate the Naperville Sun’s focus on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Naperville and residents’ insistence that all who live and work in Naperville be protected from unlawful ICE activity. It is not clear, however, that the author of your April 8, 2026, story on the draft ordinance actually read it.
The ordinance is not meant as a “guarantee” of safety, nor is it intended to give a false sense of security, as some quoted in the article suggest. It is however meant to protect those who live and work in Naperville to the extent it can, using provisions In the Illinois Constitution that regulate matters of local concern, including the use of property owned or controlled by the city and the use of municipal resources.
Because there are limits to what any municipality can do, those limits do not absolve the city from doing anything. Other municipalities in Illinois and around the country have taken legal steps, such as the ones the draft ordinance provides.
The ordinance does not call for any police activity or enforcement. Rather, it calls for documentation of violation of the ordinance, that is, unauthorized use of city-owned or city-controlled property. Such documentation informs the public of ICE activity and has proven to be useful in judicial proceedings.
Finally, the ordinance is intended to provide clear guidance regarding the use of city property, uphold constitutional protections and ensure alignment with Illinois law while maintaining Naperville focus on community safety, living up to Naperville’s values of “people, trust, respect and pride.”
Signe Gleeson, Naperville
NAPERVILLE COUNCIL NEEDS TO SUPPORT ‘BELOVED’ INDIA DAY
Naperville has long prided itself on being a welcoming, vibrant and diverse community. Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to cultural celebrations that bring us together. The annual India Day Parade deserves city support so it can continue to thrive in Naperville.
For over a decade, India Day has been one of the largest celebrations of Indian culture in the United States. The colorful parade and cultural and family-friendly activities commemorate India’s Independence Day while showcasing the heritage of our Indian-American neighbors. In a city where Asian residents make up over 25 percent of the population, this event fosters inclusion and has become an important part of our city.
I urge Naperville’s leaders to support India Day. Let’s ensure this beloved tradition continues to celebrate the best of who we are as a community.
Kevin Coyne, Naperville
SHARE YOUR VIEWS
Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name, address and town of residence for publication. We also need your phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 400 words. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and clarity.
