CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Immigrants facing deportation will continue to be held in the jail in McHenry County. Board members overwhelmingly voted Tuesday night against a proposal to end the county’s detention contract with the federal government.
Order had to be called more than once during the public comment portion of the McHenry County Board meeting. Some in the audience loudly made their disapproval known to those arguing in favor of the county maintaining its contract with ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Brian McCann was one of them.
"I’m here on behalf of, perhaps, tens of thousands of family members all over the United States that lost loved ones killed by illegal aliens. My brother..." he said before grumbling in crowd was heard in response.
Chairman: “Please, if you cannot remain orderly, you may be asked to leave."
Raphael Arrellano argued in favor of dumping the contract.
"Just because we want to cancel the contract doesn’t mean all criminals are going to go out. What are you thinking?" he said.
But Jolene Wright said the county should continue to work with the federal government to jail undocumented immigrants who are awaiting deportation.
"Enough is enough and let’s not abolish ICE, which is one of the last remaining defenses we have here in McHenry County," she said.
William Olson argued against continuing to detain immigrants.
"This petition submits members of a board of a county will soil their reputations irreparably by extending a contract which extends practices of cruelty," he said.
McHenry County is one of three counties in Illinois that detain immigrants during deportation hearings.
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