Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
The DuPage County Board majority condemned the federal agency's actions. ELMHURST, IL – Republican DuPage County Board members from Elmhurst and Hinsdale this week were among a handful who walked out before a vote condemning ICE's recent actions in the suburbs. Elmhurst's Cindy Cronin Cahill and Hinsdale's Kari Galassi both spoke before the vote. They said the board shouldn't take up national political matters. Patch left emailed messages for comment with both members. The resolution accused officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of failing to create reasonable procedures in their work. It said the agency's actions have caused fear among DuPage County residents and impeded their ability to conduct routine business and access jobs and schools, among other things. In her speech, Galassi called the resolution "political theater" that had nothing to do with the county's mission. "Our focus must remain on issues that we are empowered to address," she said. Cahill said she really prided herself on being able to work with board members of both parties. But she said she was disappointed with the resolution, which she called a political statement. She said she fully supported due process and a pathway to citizenship. "I am empathetic to the people who are severely affected by some bad things that ICE has done, but I am also a strong supporter of law enforcement and public safety," Cahill said. Board Chairwoman Deb Conroy, an Elmhurst Democrat who introduced the resolution, said the country is based on immigrants and that "we need to be damn proud of it." "Talk to your mayors, guys – 90 percent of the mayors in DuPage County are Republican," Conroy said. "They're outraged. They're losing businesses. They're seeing their community members being taken and not fairly." "We're not going to tolerate our citizens being stolen in the night and not knowing where they end up," she said. When Conroy called the vote, Cahill and Galassi could be seen in the meeting video walking out.
