HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 117-R-25, A Condemnation of Practices by Federal Immigration Enforcement Agents that Endanger Children; Urging Resident Reporting of Immigration Enforcement Misconduct; and Call for Fed (1) (1)
11/24/2025
117-R-25
A RESOLUTION
CONDEMNATION OF PRACTICES BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS THAT ENDANGER CHILDREN; URGING RESIDENT
REPORTING OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MISCONDUCT; AND CALL FOR
FEDERAL AND STATE ACTION REGARDING FEDERAL MISCONDUCT
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston is home to vibrant and diverse immigrant
communities whose contributions are vital to the city’s social, cultural, political and
economic fabrics; and
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston has a fundamental interest in the safety and
well-being of all children, regardless of immigration status, race, or national origin; and
WHEREAS, under Evanston’s Welcoming City Ordinance, the City will not
participate in federal civil immigration enforcement to ensure that all people in Evanston,
including immigrant families and children, can live with respect, safety, and dignity; and
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has similarly demonstrated its commitment to
protecting immigrant families through the Illinois Trust Act and the Illinois Way Forward
Act, 5 ILCS 805/1 and through the recent passage of HB 1312; and
WHEREAS, Illinois law makes it a criminal offense to endanger the life or health
of a child, defined as (1) causing or permitting the life or health of a child under the age
of 18 to be endangered; or (2) causing or permitting a child to be placed in
circumstances that endanger the child's life or health, including leaving a child under 14
years of age “unattended,” see 720 ILCS 5/12C-5; see also Child Abuse Prevention and
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Treatment Act (CAPTA), 42 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq. and the Abused and Neglected Child
Reporting Act, 325 ILCS 5/1 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, federal immigration enforcement practices — including traumatic
home raids, arrests in sensitive locations, family separation, and family detention —
have been shown by medical experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, to
cause lasting psychological and physical harm to children, constituting child
endangerment, see People v. Penning, 2021 IL App (3d) 190366 (by its plain meaning,
the term “endanger,” as used in offense of endangering the life or health of a child,
refers to a potential or possibility of injury; People v. Wilkenson, Ill.App.3d 869 (1st Dist.
1994) (endangering life of child involves placing child's life into danger of probable
physical or mental damage); and
WHEREAS, children have been repeatedly endangered by federal agents as part
of “Operation Midway Blitz,” including federal agents deploying tear gas and pepper
spray near day care centers, elementary schools, and open spaces where children are
present; abducting parents from cars and leaving their children stranded on the
roadside or in car seats; kidnapping a teacher from a day care center; and conducting
enforcement operations at school dismissal time to target parents picking up their
children; and
WHEREAS, a federal judge has recognized the ongoing trauma and harm
caused to children by federal agents unleashing chemical irritants just before a
Halloween parade, observing that “these kids, you can imagine their sense of safety
was shattered on Saturday. And it’s going to take a long time for that to come back, if
ever” and ordering “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not
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pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer. They just don’t. And
you can’t use riot-control weapons against them;” and
WHEREAS, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to
pause “Operation Midway Blitz” for even a few days over the Halloween holiday so that
children could celebrate safely; and
WHEREAS, far from pausing enforcement operations, federal agents instead
dramatically ramped up their activity in Evanston on Halloween, forcing schools to lock
down and instilling fear across our community on a day that was supposed to be a
celebration for children; and
WHEREAS, reports from organizations such as the National Immigrant Justice
Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Injustice Watch have documented
repeated incidents of traumatic arrests by federal agents, including a mother and
seven-month child being detained for five days at a hotel near O’Hare Airport; and
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois recently passed HB 1312, which recognizes the
need to protect children from federal agents, including requiring licensed day care
centers to restrict disclosure of immigration status information and institute procedures
in case of immigration enforcement operations on their premises; and
WHEREAS, oversight of federal immigration agencies is inadequate, relying
primarily on internal mechanisms that lack transparency and independence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
SECTION 1: RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are found as fact and
incorporated herein by reference.
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SECTION 2: OFFICIAL CITY POSITION. The City of Evanston
condemns, consistent with Illinois law, all practices by federal immigration agents that
endanger children, including but not limited to home raids, civil enforcement actions or
arrests in sensitive locations, family separations, and detention in substandard facilities.
The City further implores that under no circumstances should federal agents detain,
arrest, or disappear a parent if that results in leaving minor children alone; agents
should explore alternative plans until a parent, guardian or another responsible relative
can be contacted to ensure the child’s safety.
SECTION 3: SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS.
A. The City of Evanston recommends that residents who witness or
experience misconduct by federal immigration agents report it to the
Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois Accountability Commission.
B. Residents who witness federal agents leaving children unattended should
notify the Evanston Police Department, which may arrange to unite the
children with family and/or guardians to ensure the children’s safety.
C. The City of Evanston shall provide resources for legal support and family
preparedness on the City’s website.
D. The City of Evanston encourages residents to report all incidents related
to federal immigration enforcement, including incidents involving children,
to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights hotline at (855)
435-7693.
E. To further protect the children and people of the City of Evanston to the
greatest extent of the City’s authority, the following areas, and a three
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block area around them, are deemed sensitive and protected, and the City
of Evanston urges that no immigration enforcement actions occur at the
following locations:
1. A school, such as a preschool, primary or secondary school,
vocational or trade school, or college or university.
2. A medical or mental healthcare facility, such as a hospital, doctor’s
office, health clinic, vaccination or testing site, urgent care center,
site that serves pregnant individuals, or community health center.
3. A place of worship or religious study, whether in a structure
dedicated to activities of faith (such as a church or religious school)
or a temporary facility or location where such activities are taking
place.
4. A place where children gather, such as a playground, recreation
center, childcare center, before or after-school care center, foster
care facility, group home for children, or school bus stop.
5. A social services establishment, such as a crisis center, domestic
violence shelter, victim services center, child advocacy center,
supervised visitation center, family justice center, community-based
organization, facility that serves disabled persons, homeless
shelter, drug or alcohol counseling and treatment facility, or food
bank or pantry or other establishment distributing food or other
essentials of life to people in need.
6. A place where disaster or emergency response and relief is being
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provided, such as along evacuation routes, where shelter or
emergency supplies, food, or water are being distributed, or
registration for disaster-related assistance or family reunification is
underway.
7.A place where a funeral, graveside ceremony, rosary, wedding, or
other religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur.
8.A place where there is an ongoing parade, demonstration, or rally.
SECTION 4: CALL FOR FEDERAL ACTION. The City of Evanston urges
the United States Congress and the President to:
A.Prohibit family separation and require community-based alternatives to
detention.
B.Establish an independent oversight commission for ICE and CBP with
subpoena power.
C.Reallocate funding from enforcement and detention to humane,
community-based programs.
D.Hold public hearings to investigate child endangerment and misconduct by
immigration agents.
SECTION 5: CALL FOR STATE ACTION. The Council urges the Illinois
Attorney General and the Governor to:
A.Investigate all claims of civil rights violations and child endangerment by
federal agents.
B.Use all available legal and legislative tools to challenge harmful federal
immigration practices.
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C. Enforce the endangering the life or health of a child statute.
SECTION 6: Copies of this Resolution shall be furnished to the President
of the United States, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Majority
Leader of the U.S. Senate, all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, the
Governor of Illinois, the Illinois Attorney General, the President of the Illinois Senate,
and the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
SECTION 7: 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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November 24