PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
1/15/2026
PRESS CONTACTS:
Media Relations - press@palatinelibrary.org
Statement by the Palatine Library District Board of Trustees on ICE Activity in the Community
The Board of Palatine Library District Trustees stands with our community members impacted by recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. We do not condone their actions that disrupt our community and harm our community’s freedoms.
Palatine Library District strives to provide a welcoming space for everyone and a safe environment. As Trustees, we want to proclaim that the Library is a refuge from the threats of the outside world, but we cannot. The Library is a public space, and we cannot keep ICE agents from entering the parking lot and the Library.
Once the Library is aware of an ICE presence, staff follow established guidelines to contact leadership and security to monitor and handle the situation. Palatine Library does not assist or collaborate with ICE agents except when required to comply with a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge, as mandated by law.
The importance of privacy and access to information remains in effect at the Library. Everyone is welcome at the Library. The Library does not require a member's immigration status to register for a Library card or use services. All Library records are confidential. In addition, Library staff have created lists of immigration resources to help our community navigate these difficult times. These resources are provided below.
The vision of the Palatine Library District is to inspire connection, curiosity, and joy. Current ICE actions are antithetical to that vision: disconnecting us, making some apathetic, and creating misery among many of our family, friends, and neighbors. As elected stewards of the Library, we will continue to support and work towards a welcoming space and safe environment for all.
Palatine Library District Board of Trustees
January 2026
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Immigration Resources Guide
Local
- Local Immigration Resources - List of local organizations, information, and hours. Available in English and Spanish.
State
- Illinois Emergency Family Planning Toolkit - Toolkit for Families at risk of separation with a checklist, constitutional rights cards, contact information sheet, State of Illinois power-of-attorney, and more provided by Forward Latino.
- IDHS Welcoming Immigrants and Refugees - Lists resources offered by the State of Illinois and community-based organizations.
- Illinois Attorney General - Civil Rights and Immigration Rights education and information for residents of Illinois.
National
- Department of Justice (DOJ) List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
- National Immigration Law Center - N.I.L.C. is one of the leading advocacy organizations in the U.S. dedicated to advancing and defending the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Learn how to apply for U.S. Citizenship or Residency, and review study guides.