Peoria, Ill.—The City Council meeting on Jan. 27 provided an opportunity for Mayor Rita Ali and Police Chief Eric Echevarria to address Peoria residents’ fears about recent violent and unconstitutional federal immigration raids occurring around the country.
At the last council meeting, citizens raised their voices and asked the mayor and Council to protect the community should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attack Peoria.
Ali responded by stating that the Peoria Police Department is bound by, and will follow, the Illinois TRUST Act.
“Some of the community members have asked, what is the city doing in terms of the city’s response to potential ICE activity in Peoria,” Ali said. “So I wanted to make everybody aware of some [guidance] that we abide by.”
“The TRUST Act limits our law enforcement actions on immigration matters,” Ali said.
The Illinois TRUST Act was enacted in 2017 and amended in 2021 as part of the Way Forward Act. It prohibits local law enforcement in Illinois from engaging in federal immigration enforcement.
Despite these prohibitions and Governor Pritzker’s public comments in support of the TRUST Act, Illinois State Police were seen aiding ICE and other federal agents in 2025.
Mayor Ali called Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria to address the council meeting and speak to the instructions he has given to the Peoria Police Department related to federal immigration enforcement.
“We understand that many residents… members of our immigrant communities, and others feel the uncertainty due to the immigration enforcement actions taking place in cities across the country,” Echevarria said.
Echevarria told the council and audience that he had recently sent an email to the entire department clarifying the department’s role in federal affairs.
“Peoria Police do not enforce federal immigration law,” Echevarria said. “Our role is local public safety. We understand, the current state of ICE is a danger to communities,” he stated. “So, I’ll say that publicly.”
Community members carried signs expressing anti-ICE sentiment and pink cards that read “ICE out of Peoria.”
A dozen community members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, almost unanimously expressing concern about ICE, while also expressing gratitude that the council did indeed respond.
Dr Hind Abi-Akar, former City Council candidate and member of Peoria for Palestine, thanked the council for responding.
“At the last city council meeting, we asked the council for a position and reassurance of our safety,” Abi-Akar said. “And I do appreciate, Mayor, what you just said.”
Abi-Akar also asked the council to affirm their use of state actions aimed to protect Illinois residents from ICE. HB-1312, which became law in December, gives additional protections to immigrants, including the ability to sue federal agents for civil rights violations. Executive Order 2025-06 created the Illinois Accountability Commission to document and catalog civil rights violations by federal officers.
Justin Smeltzer of Workers Strike Back implored the council to enact several policies relating to law enforcement and immigration enforcement.
“Peoria City Council needs to pass legislation banning all agencies from sharing data with ICE. City Council needs to ban law enforcement from wearing masks. City Council should enact a city-wide eviction moratorium to protect families that are targeted by ICE,” Smeltzer asserted.
Valorie Engholm, a member of the Peoria CPUSA club, reminded the council that the ICE problem isn’t just in Minneapolis.
“I want to start by listing cities where ICE raids are happening: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, Portland, Maine, San Diego, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, San Juan,” Engholm said.
“Nine people have been murdered so far by ICE; citizens and non-citizens both, it doesn’t seem to matter,” she said. “ICE agents will come to Peoria, and are probably already here. Average citizens just like us will be caught in the crossfire.”
Engholm admonished the council to take more action, as other Illinois cities have.
“In November of 2025, Aurora [Illinois] approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of city property for ICE activity,” She said. “Chicago passed an executive order restricting ICE activity, as did Minneapolis. We won’t know how effective these ordinances will be until this battle is over, but the people of Peoria need to know that you have a plan for us.”
Community member Darcie Cady also thanked the council for responding. “I’m grateful to the council for taking our concerns so seriously,” Cady said. “In discussing protocols privately, along with additional supporting statements made tonight by both the Chief of Police, as well as our mayor.”
Another attender, Kathy McNeil, urged City Council members to become more involved in community actions.
“I have been to all the protests around these demonstrations,” McNeil said. “Are we going to have any councilpersons who are going to speak? We would like to see some participation from our government.”
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