Wilmette Passes ICE-Free Ordinance, Blocks Civil Enforcement On Village Property Amid ‘Midway Blitz’ Crackdown

Wilmette’s Village Board unanimously approved an ordinance limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, barring staff from asking about status and prohibiting use of village property for civil ICE actions. The move follows reported ICE detentions of landscapers linked to Operation Midway Blitz and mirrors steps in nearby Evanston and Skokie. Officials called the measure a “living document” that may be updated as enforcement evolves. The ordinance also temporarily permits gas-powered leaf blowers to support landscapers’ safety amid ongoing operations.