HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 93-R-25, Prohibiting the Use of City of Evanston Property for Federal Civil Immigration Enforcement Operations and Providing Direction on Implementation of the Welcoming City Ordinance
10/13/2025
93-R-25
A RESOLUTION
PROHIBITING THE USE OF CITY PROPERTY FOR FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT
WHEREAS, in 2016, the City of Evanston adopted the Welcoming City
Ordinance to limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement and to ensure
all people in Evanston can live with respect, safety, and dignity regardless of
immigration or citizenship status; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the State of Illinois passed the TRUST Act, which prohibits
state and local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration operations,
and the City of Evanston simultaneously strengthened its Welcoming City Ordinance in
accordance with the state law; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the City of Evanston again strengthened the Welcoming
City Ordinance to provide new safeguards against increasing threats to Evanston’s
immigrant communities under the incoming federal administration; and
WHEREAS, the Welcoming City Ordinance and the TRUST Act prohibit use of
City resources for federal civil immigration enforcement, including use of City facilities
like parking lots, vacant lots, and garages for federal civil immigration enforcement
staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases; and
WHEREAS, the Welcoming City Ordinance and the TRUST Act additionally
prohibit use of City resources for on-site support in federal civil immigration enforcement
operations, including establishing traffic perimeters; and
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WHEREAS, the Welcoming City Ordinance also directs all City facilities to
establish public policies that limit federal civil immigration enforcement operations on
their premises to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law; and
WHEREAS, federal agents recently deployed to Illinois and the Chicago
metropolitan area have used publicly owned parking lots, vacant lots, and garages in
other communities as staging sites for civil immigration enforcement operations; and
WHEREAS, use of City facilities in federal civil immigration enforcement
operations would not only violate the Welcoming City Ordinance but would interfere with
the City’s authority and control over its own resources, property, and personnel; and
WHEREAS, such use of City facilities would erode trust between Evanston’s
immigrant communities and local law enforcement, weakening relationships that are
essential to ensuring public safety and effective community policing; and
WHEREAS, public safety is best achieved through trust and collaboration
between Evanston residents and local government, not through the militarization or
deputization of City resources in service of federal civil immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to provide clarity for City-owned facilities on
implementation of the Welcoming City Ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
SECTION 1: That the foregoing recitals are found as fact and incorporated
herein by reference.
SECTION 2: City-owned facilities shall, in compliance with the Welcoming
City Ordinance, implement the following policies and procedures:
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A.Prohibition on Use of City of Evanston Parking Lots, Vacant Lots, Garages,
and Other City-Owned Property
No City-owned and controlled parking lot, vacant lot, garage, or other City-owned
property shall be used as a staging area, processing location, operations base, or other
support for civil immigration enforcement. Prohibited uses include but are not limited to
assembling, mobilizing, or deploying vehicles, equipment, materials, or personnel for
the purpose of carrying out civil immigration enforcement operations.
B.Implementation and Enforcement
1.City departments and agencies shall collaborate to identify City-owned
and controlled parking lots, vacant lots, garages, and other City-owned
property that could be used as a staging area, processing location,
operations base, or other support for civil immigration enforcement.
2.City departments and agencies shall ensure that all such properties have
clear signage stating: “This property is owned and controlled by the City of
Evanston. It may not be used for civil immigration enforcement, including
use as a staging area, processing location, or operations base.”
3.Where available and appropriate, city departments and agencies may
utilize physical barriers such as locked gates to limit access to City-owned
and controlled parking lots, vacant lots, garages, or other property
consistent with this Resolution and in conjunction with proper signage.
4.Within two weeks of the adoption of this Resolution, the City shall develop
procedures for its departments and agencies to implement this Resolution.
These implementing procedures shall provide that any City employee or
agent who becomes aware of the attempted or actual use of a City-owned
and controlled parking lot, vacant lot, garage, or other property as a
staging area, processing location, operations base, or other support for
civil immigration enforcement shall immediately report to their supervisor,
who shall immediately report to the City Manager or designee.
C.Private Property Signage
The City Manager ’s Office shall design and print standardized signage that
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private landowners and leaseholders may display to delineate the non-public areas of
the property in which the landowner or leaseholder wishes to restrict activities related to
civil immigration enforcement. The City will make this signage available free of charge
to private landowners and leaseholders, including but not limited to businesses, medical
providers, nonprofit organizations, and faith institutions, who voluntarily decide to so
designate their property consistent with their authority over the property and who
voluntarily request such signage from the City. The City shall also make this signage
available on the City website so that landowners and leaseholders may download and
print signs. Landowners and leaseholders who post this signage do so at their own
discretion and assume any legal risk associated therewith.
D. Scope
This Resolution does not apply to property that is subject to an existing lease or
concession agreement to which the City is a party. This Resolution is not intended to,
and shall not be interpreted to, interfere with any such lease or agreement. Nothing in
this Resolution shall be construed as restricting or interfering with the execution of
lawful judicial warrants or the enforcement of criminal law, nor as limiting the rights of
any person or entity under state or federal law. This Resolution does not prohibit the
lawful use of City-owned and controlled property for purposes other than a staging area,
processing location, operations base, or other support for civil immigration enforcement,
nor does it restrict any person or entity from carrying out functions unrelated to those
purposes on such property.
SECTION 3: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
_______________________________
Daniel Biss, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
______________________________
Alexandra B. Ruggie, Corporation Counsel
Adopted: ______________________, 2025
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October 13