The Village of Skokie is home to residents who have joined us from at least one hundred areas all over the world. The Village has welcomed them into our culture, religions, businesses and social life. The Village understands that some Skokie residents are concerned about the threatened ICE raids announced for the Chicagoland and across the country. The Village shares their concern and pursuant to the Skokie Village Code, Village of Skokie staff or Skokie Police officers will not support or assist with immigrant enforcement operations in any way.
If anyone has questions about their rights or safety, please call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at 1-855-435-7693 or visit www.icirr.org.
July 17, 2019, 3:45 p.m. Update:
The Village has received several calls about an alleged ICE raid at Westfield Old Orchard, specifically at California Pizza Kitchen. The Skokie Police Chief has spoken to the mall's senior management, and there is no confirmation of ICE raids or presence at California Pizza Kitchen or any other location in the mall or anywhere in the Village of Skokie. The rumor began when a mall customer saw an individual wearing an earpiece, much like is used for many Bluetooth or two-way radio systems, outside of the restaurant. There is no evidence that this individual was an ICE agent.
The Village of Skokie encourages citizens to contact the Skokie Police Department at 847-982-5900 if they believe immigration enforcement activities are occurring so that the Police Department can determine the accuracy of the information and avoid the spread of inaccurate information.