Mayor Janine Witko laid out a plan at a recent Village Board meeting to address the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigration activities on the village. The plan consists of five policy actions, some of which have already been rolled out, that do not require the board to adopt a formal ordinance or resolution. It calls for posting signs that restrict federal immigration agents from parking on village property, providing the village social worker as a confidential resource to residents affected by enforcement efforts, setting up a village website and providing flyers to give information and resources and requiring all village staff to abide by the Illinois TRUST Act. Witko said she is most proud of the confidential resource line with the village social worker. She said that people impacted by the presence of ICE agents who, for example, have been too afraid to leave their homes may call the social worker to get help accessing village resources. “Police won’t be involved,” the mayor said, explaining that the hotline number rings straight to the social worker. Police Chief Mike Weitzel provided an overview of the police department’s policies regarding federal immigration enforcement, pointing out that the department had a rule against enforcing civil immigration law since before the state enacted the TRUST Act in 2017. “Public safety depends on people feeling safe, calling the police, reporting crimes, cooperating with investigations and seeking help when they need it,” Weitzel said. “This has been our position for many, many years and it remains our position today.” The village also mandates that all village employees must now abide by the TRUST Act, not only police officers — as the state law requires. Witko said flyers have been designed to include resource information and were to be distributed to places of worship and other public locations people frequent in an effort to try and get the word out to people who may not regularly interact with village government. Several residents and other stakeholders turned out to a Nov. 25 board meeting to show their appreciation for the steps the village is taking, though many of them still hope to press for more. Jenny Marin said she was encouraged by the steps the village was taking, but wanted to see more done. She also emphasized that as many people had come to the meeting, many more had stayed away for fear of their safety. “It is heartbreaking to hear and know that our neighbors do not feel safe coming to their own Village Board to request help or share their ideas,” she said. Another resident, Jeremy Pastin, said he was encouraged by the actions being taken by the village, but that he was disappointed they would not be codified in the form of an ordinance or resolution. He said establishing law would help rebuild the public’s waning trust in government institutions and reassure people that their safety and security is a top priority. “This community is our home and we should treat and care for every member of it as if they were our family,“ Pastin said. The webpage advising residents on their rights and the resources available to them is available at mortongroveil.org/rights-resources. Alan Kozeluh is a freelancer.  ...read more read less