An inaccurate report of a federal immigration operation at an apartment building in Mundelein drew a large crowd and prompted the response of local police Wednesday evening, officials said.
The Mundelein Police Department issued a statement on Thursday saying they wished to “dispel inaccuracies in information and social media commentary” relating to a situation that occurred at Embassy Apartments near Orchard Street and Shaddle Avenue.
Several individuals reported that U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents were conducting immigration enforcement in the area on Wednesday evening.
The rumor quickly spread through social media and other avenues.
The Mundelein Police Department was called to the scene after being notified that a large crowd had begun to gather.
People were voicing their displeasure with the presence of the agents and some began following the agents and their vehicles.
Officers were able to confirm that the operation was not related to immigration and no one was taken into custody. The agents conducting the operation left the area.
Mundelein Police Chief Jason Seeley said he did not have specific details of the operation but that it was a criminal investigation involving another local police agency in conjunction with DHS HSI agents and a second federal agency.
HSI is the largest investigative arm of the DHS and is focused on fighting threats such as terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking, child exploitation and financial fraud.
“Although we recognize the growing fear and concern over ongoing immigration enforcement across the country, particularly in the Chicagoland area, and respect the rights of every individual to speak out against these activities, we want EVERYONE to be SAFE in doing so,” the police department said.
The police department said that federal and state enforcement agencies are still responsible for conducting criminal investigations involving violent crimes, drugs and other matters and operations are not always immigration-related.
The officers and agents can easily be mistaken or misidentified as immigration agents, the department added.
Anyone who witnesses concerning activity is encouraged to contact their local police jurisdiction to investigate.
“Finally, do not place yourself in a situation or actively engage in a way that you are physically interfering with the officers, agents, or operations. Doing so is dangerous, illegal, and could have long-standing unintended consequences,” the police department said.
“In respecting the rights of every individual, we ALL share a responsibility to do so peacefully and civilly,” the department added.