ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (WLS) — Witnessing a Homeland Security Investigations operation at an Elk Grove Village warehouse on Friday was a disconcerting experience for both the locals and their elected representatives.
Video from witnesses nearby the facility near Busse Road shows federal agents going into the warehouse for an undisclosed operation.
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That building is operated by Accelerated Global Operations and SpeedX.
“According to the manager, all individuals at the premises have valid work permits. It appears that those detained were taken into custody merely due to not carrying a physical copy of their work permits at the time,” explained Kevin Morrison, the Cook County commissioner for the 15th District.
Morrison says he arrived after employees were detained.
Morrison mentioned that the Accelerated Global Solutions manager reported only a few staff members being escorted out. However, observers in the vicinity suggested that over a dozen individuals were actually detained.
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Elk Grove Village police said HSI told them about 11:30 a.m. that they would be conducting operations at 2701 Busse Road.
“They did not specify the nature of their operations and did not request our assistance,” police said.
The operation ended around 1:50 p.m., police said.
Neither the businesses nor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately responded to requests for more details.
“These are families being torn apart. We have no idea the type of process they’re gonna receive. We’ve seen so many people deported without having a hearing or a day in court, which goes directly against our constitution,” Morrison said.
Just hours after that, residents down the road shared growing concerns about these operations across the country.
“I think they need to have due process, and we need to make sure we have the checks and balances. That’s what separates us from so many other countries is that we have rights,” Barrington resident Wendy Wittkamp said.
“I’m the son of immigrants. Honestly, living in fear is the norm for us, and it has been for decades. But, it has changed fundamentally over the last months, and it’s just devastating,” said Jesse Rojo, chair of Illinois Veterans for Change.
The Cook County commissioner said the warehouses have been subject to some routine checks from the Department of Homeland Security in recent weeks.
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