A Palatine police officer aided a federal enforcement action Monday morning, local authorities said.
One candidate for Illinois state representative questioned whether the action violated the TRUST Act, which prevents the use of state and local resources for civil immigration enforcement purposes, according to a fact sheet from the Illinois attorney general.
Jenny Levin, who is making a run to represent Illinois General Assembly’s 51st House District, called for an investigation by local authorities in a post to social media Monday.
The TRUST Act does not prevent law enforcement officers from “taking action to maintain peace and ensure public safety within their jurisdiction,” the fact sheet notes.
Just before noon, Palatine police officers observed three federal agents attempting to take a subject into custody after responding to a report of a disturbance in the northwest suburban village, the Palatine Police Department said in a news release. The department did not immediately say what agency the agents were from.
During the confrontation, a crowd of about 20 people gathered, with “several individuals shouting obscenities and moving toward the arresting agents,” the department said. In turn, a Palatine officer positioned himself between the agents and the crowd “to ensure the safety of everyone involved and to maintain order at the scene,” the department added.
However, after continuing to see agents struggle with the subject and “given the subject’s noncompliance, the agitated crowd and the potential risk of injury,” the officer “made the split-second decision to assist in stabilizing the situation,” the department said.
The officer gave verbal instructions in Spanish to the person getting detained and grasped the person’s right arm — which was already being handcuffed — while the agents secured the person’s left arm to help bring the incident to a resolution, according to the department.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Palatine Police Department in its release Monday said it “remains committed to complying with all state laws and will continue to focus on building relationships with the community.”
The Police Department’s priority is to address criminal activity and ensure the safety of all residents,” the department continued. “The police department is here to serve and protect all members of our community equally. Residents should feel safe reporting crimes without fear of immigration repercussions. By adhering to these principles, the police department demonstrates our commitment to fair and unbiased policing.”