The Village is aware of recent immigration enforcement activity conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies in our community and surrounding area and how this has created anxiety and fear for many residents. The Village of Hanover Park strives to make our Village a Welcoming Community and is committed to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of those living in our community. We are proud to be known as America’s Global Village.
We want to ensure our community that the Police Department fully supports and complies with the Illinois Trust Act which prohibits our Police Department from participating in or assisting with federal immigration enforcement. Per the Trust Act, local law enforcement must enforce state laws and local ordinances, they are not to engage in immigration enforcement. Our officers are here to protect and serve the community, not to enforce federal immigration laws. The Village’s response to calls involving immigration operations is limited to safety and observation of the scene.
If you call 911, Hanover Park police officers respond, ICE does not come along with them, and officers do not inquire about the immigration status of individuals. Our police officers do not detain anyone based solely on their immigration status or provide any other assistance to immigration agents related to immigration investigations. While the Village will not and cannot assist ICE agents in their operations, we cannot lawfully obstruct them either.
Earlier this year, the Village held a webinar about the Illinois Trust Act and Know Your Rights. The Police Chief and the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic presented on these topics. This webinar is available for residents to view on the Village’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@VillageofHanoverPark. There are also Know Your Rights resources available through the Illinois Attorney General’s Office or residents can contact the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic with questions. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) also offers a hotline (855-435-7693) that can connect individuals with an immigration attorney to understand their rights.