Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients may soon be eligible to be hired to work as firefighters for the City of Elgin, and “ICE free zones” may be established.
On Wednesday, October 22, the Elgin City Council met with about 150 community members present.
Council members Anthony Ortiz and Dustin Good proposed Article C, which would allow DACA recipients to be eligible to be hired as firefighter positions, as the Council members have voted yes.
Council members also discussed Article H’s Initiative, presented by Council members Tish Powell and John Steffen. This is an ordinance regulating the use of certain City-owned properties for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities.
The presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has increased in Elgin and the surrounding areas over the past few months.
On Sept. 18, 2025, ICE detained an ECC student in the parking lot of Building K. Though the incident was reported to be “isolated,” students at ECC still felt uneasy.
“What ICE is doing is disheartening and traumatizing, as I had to watch my friend being arrested at ECC,” said Malachy Stanger, referencing the Sept. 18 incident.
The ECC student went on to say, “My view of ECC has been almost exclusively positive for the years I’ve been there, but this event left me shocked and disgusted beyond words.”
Visibly shaking and emotional, he continued.
“I’ve always been proud to grow up in a diverse community,” Stanger said. “I’ve had many friends, neighbors, and coworkers from Spanish-speaking communities, and they are some of the hardest-working people I’ve met.”
“I don’t want to see Elgin, Carpentersville, Dundee, or anywhere else around here become whitewashed communities, nor do I want my neighbors living in fear of a tyrannical government,” Stanger said. “In my eyes, this is only one step, but it’s a meaningful step that will help many.”
At City Hall, all 150 seats were filled as people began to stand and gather along the back and side walls. Community members looked to make a statement and voice their concerns.
Members of the council then offered the floor to anyone who would like to speak.
Multiple community members spoke out against ICE and their actions. Many described their actions are “disgusting” and “inhumane.”
“Righteousness and humanity [are] not negotiable in Elgin,” said Gisselle Garcia, an active member in the Elgin’s community. “The people have taken a stance; it’s time our elected officials do as well.”
Several who were in attendance held signs in protest to ICE’s presence in their city.
“It’s people who look like me being detained,” said Tish Powell, council member. “It can happen to anyone.”
Corporation Counsel Beck stated that there are “significant limitations” of what can be done.
“I want to bring up the Voices Act,” said Corey Dixion, a councilman.
The Voices Act or Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors is an active legislation that is designed to help victims of crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. It requires law enforcement to issue certification forms to victims of qualifying criminal activity, granting them temporary U and T visas.
“Those rights are being violated every day,” Dixson said. “That’s why we are here today speaking about ICE-free Zones.”
Elgin Area Immigrants Alliance presented a “Know Your Rights “ slide presentation as onlookers began to take photos of the slides for reference.
“We can’t just lay down,” Powell said. “We are not looking to pass anything tonight.”
“But we have to discuss this,” she said. “It’s timely stuff.”
Representatives of InQUEST Consultings, who provide professional services that involve Designated Equity Inclusion, held a PowerPoint presentation to discuss the continued partnership with the city.
According to Elgin’s City Council Agenda, this partnership is in efforts to “sustain support and expert guidance in advancing the city’s organizational culture and engagement strategy.”
