Mount Prospect police address immigration concerns

Addressing residents concerns about possible immigration raids in town, Mount Prospect officials this week said they will abide by state law that prevents local police from assisting in most immigration enforcement activities.

“Our goal of being a diverse and inclusive community is not going to change,” Mayor Paul Hoefert said at a village board meeting Tuesday.

The village also posted on its website that it will assist federal immigration agents only when officers are presented with a federal criminal warrant or when required by a specific federal law.

The Illinois TRUST Act, enacted by the General Assembly in 2017, states that a law enforcement agency or official in the state may not participate, support or assist in any capacity with an immigration agent’s enforcement operations without a federal criminal warrant.

“That is the law we followed 2017,” Police Chief Michael Eterno said. “We continue to follow it. We're not going to deviate from that.”

Eterno said the state law also prohibits the department from sharing information with federal organizations regarding immigration status. It also prevents officers from detaining or arresting people strictly on their citizenship or immigration status.

Resident Carole Delahunty voiced concerns during Tuesday’s board meeting.

“It’s very frightening to be targeted by the president of the United States,” she said. “People in our community are scared, and many are looking to our elected representatives for reassurance and guidance.”