‘Not a random operation': Residents, officials alarmed after possible ICE activity in Rockford
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford's southwest side is quiet Friday, a day after personnel from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were confirmed in the area.
'People were confused about some things. From my understanding, that it may have been in a residential area or near a park, all of it is, with the social media posts, and not from official sources,' said 6th Ward Alderwoman Aprel Prunty (D).
Prunty said she heard from residents of her ward that DHS personnel near Liberty Park.
While officials if agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were present, the City of Rockford released a statement saying, 'It is important to note that ICE is a federal agency operating under the Department of Homeland Security.'
'This was scary for a lot of people. And, especially if it were near a park, we know that children were probably there. I have heard that, since then, that maybe children did witness it,' Prunty said.
Fernando Lopez, the station manager at Rockford's Latino radio station La Bamba Radio, said he was made aware of two individuals who were targeted due to active deportation orders against them.
'It's not a random operation of ICE. It was targeting specific people. As far as we know, they pick specific people with deportation proceedings. That's what this is. No massive raids, no random stuff,' Lopez said.
According to ICE, those arrested in its operations nationwide had criminal histories, including sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons charges, and domestic violence.
In Illinois, the TRUST Act, signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in 2017, prevents state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
According to the 2023 Way Forward Act Compliance Report, 88.5% of requests from federal immigration authorities were rejected statewide.
City officials did not have further updates.
Earlier this year, Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd on the department's policy, saying, 'The enforcement of civil immigration laws is the primary responsibility of federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Rockford Police Department does not participate in civil immigration-related investigations or actions.'
Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said in a , 'Local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from honoring ICE detainers or acting on an individual's immigration status without a judicial warrant. These legal restrictions limit the ability of local law enforcement to collaborate with federal partners, including ICE, in addressing certain public safety concerns.'
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