U.S. Border Patrol agents expanded their focus to central Lake County after they were seen on Friday making numerous arrests in the Round Lake area, Wauconda and Fox Lake.
Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 sent a letter to parents on Friday warning about recent reports of immigration enforcement activity in the area on Friday.
District 118 has elementary, middle and high schools in Wauconda and Island Lake.
“There has been no direct interaction with our schools. Our schools will continue to operate on a normal schedule,” the letter said.
The school district said they have clear and legally reviewed procedures for responding to any requests involving student interviews or records.
Staff are not permitted to request, identify, track or release information related to the immigration status of any student, parent or staff member.
Staff may not respond if approached by any immigration official and must immediately contact the school or district administration.
Any requests for access to students or student records for immigration purposes are referred directly to district administration and reviewed with legal counsel.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in January rescinded its long-standing policy restricting immigration enforcement in “protected areas,” such as schools, churches and healthcare facilities.
The change broadened where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agents may act but did not expand legal authority to access students for questioning or interviews without proper legal documentation or to obtain confidential student records, the school district said.
“We understand this situation can cause concern. Our community is fortunate to have a local resource with the Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, which provides trusted assistance and information on immigration-related matters,” the district said in the letter.
U.S. Border Patrol and ICE agents have been conducting immigration enforcement operations mostly in eastern Lake County in recent weeks, particularly in Waukegan and North Chicago.
On Friday, U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agents were seen in force conducting operations in central Lake County.
Agents were spotted by the Home Depot, Meijer and Walmart in Round Lake Beach stopping people at random while demanding documentation and making arrests.
They were also spotted by the Walgreens at Cedar Lake Road and Rollins Road where they stopped at least two people.
Border Patrol agents were also seen in Fox Lake and at a townhome construction site off Route 12 in Volo.
Agents were also seen questioning someone in the parking lot of the Walmart in Gurnee.
In Wauconda, agents arrested numerous people at a car wash in the area of Route 176 and Larkdale Row.