Kankakee, IL – Federal immigration activity in Kankakee drew community attention over the weekend following reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in several city neighborhoods.
According to a Facebook post shared Sunday by Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis, both he and Police Chief Chris Kidwell were aware that ICE and other federal agencies were conducting operations within city limits but were not notified in advance about specific locations or times. Curtis emphasized that the City of Kankakee “neither assisted, nor hindered” activity.
Social media posts circulated Saturday and Sunday described ICE vehicles and agents in the Myrtle Street area and near the Cobb Boulevard subdivision close to Cobb Park. Images shared online appeared to show a silver Hyundai sedan reportedly linked to federal personnel.
In response to community concern, Kankakee Community College (KCC) sent an email Monday reaffirming its commitment to protect all students’ privacy, regardless of immigration status. “Information about a student’s immigration status is private and protected by state and federal law,” wrote Meredith Purcell, Vice President for Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator. The college directed students to online resources for undocumented and immigrant student support.
The extent and purpose of ICE’s operations in Kankakee have not been publicly confirmed as of Monday.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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