Rep. Underwood demands answers over alleged ‘reckless’ ICE activity in Joliet

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood wants answers about alleged federal immigration enforcement activity in Joliet that she says flagrantly violated law enforcement standards and recklessly put people at risk.

Underwood, D-Naperville, sent a letter on Thursday to Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Kristi Noem, secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In the letter, Underwood said multiple witnesses reported on July 9 that an “an unmarked black extended cab truck taking part in ICE enforcement actions” had rammed into the rear of a civilian vehicle and trapped it near the intersection of Cass Street and Arch Street in Joliet.

“This location is adjacent to a youth center, a high school, and a minor league baseball stadium, and is considered a high-traffic public area,” Underwood’s letter said.

That intersection is within a few blocks of Joliet Central High School and the stadium for the Joliet Slammers baseball team in downtown Joliet.

Witnesses further reported four people dressed in “military-style fatigues” with black bulletproof vests labeled “police” had exited the vehicle and pointed “automatic weapons” at the vehicle’s occupants, Underwood’s letter said.

“Witnesses then report seeing one man being removed from the vehicle that was rammed and detained. We have since been informed that the individual was told he would be ‘removed on the 22nd,’” Underwood’s letter said.

Underwood said if the allegations are true, then they appear to be a a “flagrant violation” of law enforcement’s responsibility to prioritize community safety, minimize potential risks to civilians and officers and exercise “extreme care and sensitivity for child welfare.”

“The reckless use of vehicle assault and weapons of war on our streets – especially in areas near schools and youth centers where these actions pose heightened risks to children – is completely unacceptable,” Underwood said.

Underwood is expecting a “comprehensive briefing” about the incident by Sunday.

When contacted about the incident, Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English, the department’s spokesman, said they learned the Department of Homeland Security “conducted an operation in the area of Cass Street and Arch Street on [July 9.]”

“The Joliet Police Department did not participate in this operation,” English said.

A rapid response team from Warehouse Workers For Justice responded to the incident, according to Marcos Ceniceros, the organization’s executive director.

Ceniceros said the team spoke with the family of the vehicle’s occupants and learned of the incident as described in Underwood’s letter.

Ceniceros said his team also learned the man who was detained had been hit with a Taser, which he said was “completely unnecessary and cruel.” He said the man who was detained did not have a criminal record of any kind.

“He was here seeking status through the proper channels but this is the way they responded to him,” Ceniceros said.

Ceniceros said the man’s spouse, who was in the vehicle, had asked the people who detained him why he was getting arrested and who they were.

Those questions were not answered, he said.

Ceniceros said Underwood is correct to demand answers about what happened.

“We need to know that people are going to be held accountable for this kind of behavior. This is very aggressive, it was cruel and it was dangerous,” he said.