Six more towns in Lake County passed ordinances this week that will allow them to impound buses and fine operators if they drop off migrants without approval.
The Village of Mundelein introduced a bus ordinance after saying they had “significant concerns” for the health and safety of its residents and potential passengers who could be dropped off unannounced in its village.
“Passengers dropped off outside of Metra scheduled service hours would be unable to find transportation to the designated landing zone and there is limited shelter from inclement weather available on-site,” the village said.
“Further, an unscheduled drop-off could occur without the Village’s knowledge, leaving passengers exposed to the elements and without food or water,” the village added.
Any buses that are set to drop off migrants in Mundelein would be required to file an application with the village at least five business days in advance.
Bus operators that drop off without an approved application will face a fine of $10,000 plus $750 per passenger. Buses can also be impounded.
The village board voted unanimously to pass the ordinance during a board meeting on Monday.
Several other city councils and village boards throughout Lake County also passed similar ordinances on Monday.
Those municipalities include Round Lake Beach, Barrington, Lake Bluff and Lincolnshire.
Deer Park passed one on Wednesday and Barrington Hills passed an ordinance at the beginning of the month.
Other municipalities in Lake County, including Waukegan, North Chicago, Grayslake and Highwood, also have enacted migrant bus ordinances.
“This is done for the safety of those passengers. Some accounts that you may read across the suburban area have had instances where passengers have been dropped on the sides of the road,” Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor said during a board meeting earlier this month.
The mayor said the village has no temporary housing for the migrants, most of whom want to go to Chicago.
Many suburbs in the Chicago area have seen migrants being dropped off at Metra stations after Chicago implemented an ordinance restricting drop-offs, leading to buses from Texas being redirected.
A charter bus of 39 migrants coming from San Antonio, Texas showed up at the Waukegan Metra station early in the morning on December 21 and local officials had to scramble to arrange transportation to Chicago for them.