Lake County Gazette

In an effort to regulate the unannounced drop-offs of illegal immigrants, the Village of Riverwoods enacted an ordinance earlier this year. This move mirrors that of Chicago, which witnessed a surge in the number of buses carrying illegal immigrants after they were turned away in late December, leading to thousands of such drop-offs in suburban communities.

Bruce M. Dayno, Chief of Police for the Village of Riverwoods, provided press releases regarding this matter to the Lake County Gazette upon request from Mayor Kristine L. Ford.

"On January 16, 2024, the Village of Riverwoods Board of Trustees approved an ordinance aimed at regulating unscheduled and unannounced stops by buses or chartered transportation services carrying asylum seekers," a press release from the Village of Riverwoods stated.

"Adjacent municipalities have passed similar ordinances, but with Riverwoods being a significantly smaller town, without its own train station, no community center or other large venues that may serve the purpose of providing temporary accommodations for migrants, the passing of the ordinance has helped pave the roadmap for law enforcement on how to handle a situation that has historically not taken place in Riverwoods."

"In summary, to conduct an unscheduled stop, drivers must file an application with the Police Chief at least five days before the proposed drop off date, detailing information about the service, passengers, and a plan for their care upon disembarking. The Village’s approval may come with conditions, limiting the number of vehicles and specifying operational hours."

The village emphasized that non-compliance with these regulations could result in penalties ranging from fines to potential impoundment of vehicles. It underscored its commitment to public safety while acknowledging potential impacts on passengers disembarking from unscheduled stops.

This ordinance was enacted prior to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's appeal for assistance from suburban mayors in dealing with his city's crisis involving illegal immigrants.

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso said, in reference to Johnson. In an interview with NBC Chicago, Grasso revealed that Johnson had specifically requested support for increased funding for shelter and services for migrants, as well as Johnson's demand from Washington.

In a recent revelation, Mark Senak, Glen Ellyn Village President, disclosed that the community was offered an $11 million state grant to facilitate the permanent resettlement of illegal immigrants. This disclosure was made during the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26. Senak informed attendees that the state had proposed this substantial grant to assist with migrant settlement in Glen Ellyn. The DuPage Policy Journal previously reported that State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) brought this issue to light by notifying the village about available funds for this purpose.

Concerns have been raised following reports that over 34,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022, intensifying calls for more robust border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant money for municipalities to house illegal immigrants. As of last fall, Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana and Chicago had received these state grants to assist with housing and other needs. Overall, Capitol News Illinois reports, the state has allocated $500 million for the care of illegal immigrants.