ICE activity confirmed in Wilmette. Number of arrests remains unclear

Federal immigration enforcement came to Wilmette on Wednesday.

Reports, photos and videos from several community members show that federal agents were active in multiple locations on Oct. 29 afternoon in Wilmette.

Wilmette Village Manager Michael Braiman, speaking for the Village, said the resident accounts of federal law enforcement activity Wednesday are credible; though, local police did not witness any such activity.

Braiman added that police took calls on Wednesday describing multiple incidents involving federal agents in Wilmette. He could not immediately confirm, though, if agents apprehended any individuals.

Resident Chad Boomgaarden told The Record that he spoke with at least one border patrol agent around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday in an alley between Park and Prairie avenues near his home. Boomgaarden, who shared photos supporting the encounter, said he inquired about federal jurisdiction on and near private property, among other topics.

He was walking his dog and was not pleased to see men in “face masks, camo, tactical gear and long rifle weapons” just feet from his backyard.

“You know, I’m a pretty chill dad/husband/person,” he wrote to The Record via text message, “but I’ve always had a soft spot and protective instinct for people or animals being bullied … so I have to say I was really pissed off.”

Boomgaarden did not see the agents make any arrests; however, Patrick Hanley, a Winnetka resident and local politician, who followed the agents’ vehicles into the alley reportedly witnessed up to seven armed and masked agents in fatigues detain and drive away with two individuals.

Hanley shared a video taken Wednesday with The Record that shows two vehicles in an alley and at least six uniformed and masked members of law enforcement.

“With no disrespect to sharks, it was like seeing sharks in open water. You know these people are dangerous and don’t know what they are going to do,” said Hanley, the leader of the New Trier Democrats and candidate for Illinois senate.

Hanley and dozens of community members use a group chat to track the local presence and activity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officials.

Erinn Martin, of Winnetka, is also in that group chat and said when she saw messages saying ICE agents were in Wilmette, she parked her car near the Wilmette library.

When she saw a possible federal vehicle — as described in the group chat — pass by, she and a handful of other cars driven by community members in that same group chat followed it.

The car stopped at one point and agents got out, she said.

“They open the door and are standing there in tactical gear, like it’s Afghanistan, here in Wilmette,” said Martin, who grew up in Wilmette. “… They are bringing unnecessary trauma and chaos into our neighborhoods.”

Martin said she began blowing a whistle, a growing resistance measure to alert communities of federal agents in the area. She was not alone.

Boomgaarden said six people came to the alley within 30 seconds and were blowing whistles and documenting the agents via photo and video.

Martin and others continued following the alleged federal vehicles out of Wilmette, through Glenview and to the Home Depot in Niles.

Martin said the group chat has a segment they call a rapid response team, of which she is a part, and the team’s goal is to respond to the scene of an ICE sighting and warn community members while also letting the agents know they are unwanted.

“Because this is wrong,” she said. “You can have a conversation about whether immigrants need to be deported, but that’s not what this is about. If you’ve seen footage of them arresting U.S. citizens, breaking windows — there is no responsibility. Nothing is going to stop them except for us. So we have to stop them.”

She added, “There is fear in the air, and everybody should stand up. Nobody should feel that way.”

Wednesday’s incidents come on the heels of an emotional discussion during Wilmette’s Village Board meeting on Tuesday night, Oct. 28, when a large contingent of residents packed board chambers urging Village officials to respond to local ICE activity.

To address the topic, the Village Board directed staffers to prepare possible policy changes the board could approve to “help keep community members safe,” according to a community email sent by the Village on Wednesday.

The board also wants staff to prepare communication material to educate residents and better promote resources available to immigrants in the community.

Stay tuned to TheRecordNorthShore.org while this story develops.

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