ICE agents in Rockford, city officials say Thursday

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The City of Rockford shared a “community update” on Thursday morning, informing residents of the presence of ICE vehicles.

According to city officials, an SUV with markings consistent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was seen parked at Rockford Police District 2 headquarters on Broadway.

At 8:23, authorities said ICE agents approached the building, which was closed at that time, but made no contact with anyone inside. The SUV departed at 8:40 p.m., authorities said.

“The Rockford Police Department had no contact with ICE before, during, or after this incident, and we have no information about whether they remain in our community,” the city posted.

In Illinois, the TRUST Act, signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in 2017, prevents state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Earlier this year, Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd issued a statement 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 January statement, “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.”

ICE are currently conducting “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, in an effort to detain and deport “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets.”

The Department of Homeland Security said the operation was in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed by an undocumented migrant in a drunk-driving crash in Illinois.

Organizers of several Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month events in Rockford said they had canceled the activities due to “safety concerns” over possible ICE enforcement activities.

Earlier this month, DHS had installed a temporary perimeter fence around the federal courthouse building, at 327 S Church Street.

Mayor Tom McNamara has been a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump and his effort to deport criminal aliens from the U.S. interior, calling the president a “dictator” and “sexual predator” at a “No Kings, No Troops” rally on September 6th.

 “To our immigrant neighbors: please know this — you are valued, you are cared for and you are an important part of who we are,” the city posted in a Facebook statement earlier this month.

According to ICE, those arrested in its operations nationwide had criminal histories, including sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons charges, and domestic violence.