West Cook News

The Town of Cicero has issued a statement acknowledging the presence of federal agents in the area. The town clarified that it had not been informed by federal officials about the nature or purpose of their activities.

"We have received no communication from any federal officials about this activity and were not told what they are investigating," the statement read. It further noted that there was no prior knowledge about the meeting of federal agents early in the morning at a health department parking lot, nor information on their subsequent destination, as "federal officials are not obligated to provide us with that information."

Cicero highlighted its status as the first municipality in Illinois to be designated a “Safe Space.” The town emphasizes its commitment to recognizing "the rights of all residents, regardless of their citizenship, immigration or residency status." Additionally, Cicero strictly prohibits using its officers, resources, or facilities for enforcing federal civil immigration laws.

Residents are encouraged to educate themselves about their rights concerning civil immigration enforcement. More information is available at https://www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/.

The statement is also available in Spanish, reiterating similar points regarding the unexpected federal activity and Cicero's stance as a “Safe Space.”