The Gurnee Village Board on Tuesday voted to limit the ability of federal and state agencies, like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to use village-owned property for any purpose without permission. The resolution states that any state or federal agency seeking to use such property must first obtain written permission and that the permission may be revoked at any time by Village Administrator Patrick Muetz, Mayor Tom Hood, any member of the Village Board of Trustees, or Police Chief Jeremy Gaughan. Gurnee becomes the latest Lake County municipality to restrict ICE’s activities within its borders. In October, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. signed an executive order barring federal immigration officials from using the city’s resources, property, personnel or other assets in its deportation efforts. The Waukegan City Council also approved a measure banning federal immigration officials from using city property in their operations. The Lake County Board also approved a resolution in October that bans the use of county-owned parking lots, vacant properties and garages for civil immigration enforcement. “The village has put together a proactive policy that gives a clear and concise policy, and even includes an enforcement provision,” Village Attorney Bryan Winter said. “There is no question that the village has legal authority to control its own property. “This does not apply to sidewalks and streets,” he said. “We can’t limit who uses the streets.” Trustee Kevin Woodside was the only member of the Village Board to vote against the resolution. During the meeting, he said that the resolution was “lacking” because it does not name specific federal or state agencies. “I appreciate attorney Winter,” he said. “Your effort in drafting this in a way that is enforceable and clean from any position on a particular agency, but I think that it’s lacking without it. “It seems painful to not have it in there at some point, painful to the community, even if it’s not enforceable,” Woodside said. He added that residents who are immigrants may be afraid to reach out to village law enforcement officials because of their fear of state and federal agencies, which he said “weakens safety” for the entire community. “Public safety depends on trust,” Woodside said. “If members of our immigrant community fear that contact with local law enforcement may expose them to immigration consequences solely because of their status, they will hesitate to report crimes, cooperate as witnesses or seek help as victims.” Trustee Jeanne Balmes said that the resolution is “enough,” and that federal immigration agencies are “doing their jobs.” “This is an agency that is doing their job, and other agencies would be doing the same thing when there have been violations of our laws,” she said. “So this is enough to say we are watching, and respect our government.” Some residents who spoke at the meeting also said that Gurnee is not going far enough in adopting the ordinance and called on the village to take further steps, including passing an ordinance rather than a resolution. “ICE and CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) have not been held accountable on any level,” resident Jenny Hartmann said. “They need to be held accountable for their violent, aggressive and even deadly actions.” Many of the residents who spoke at the meeting, as well as Village Board members, brought up immigration-related incidents that happened at Warren Township High School, including a car chase and arrest that culminated at the school in October, and a walkout protest at the high school last month. “Protests help democracies move,” Trustee Karen Thorstenson said. “Some of these students aren’t old enough to vote yet. This is their way to give their voice.” ...read more read less