On Wednesday, June 17, at approximately 9 a.m., the Villa Park Police Department responded to the area of VASA Fitness at 300 W. North Avenue after receiving information that a federal law enforcement agency was attempting to apprehend a wanted individual.
“According to information provided on scene, the federal agency attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the individual,” noted the police department in a statement. “During the encounter, the subject exited the vehicle and fled on foot into VASA Fitness. Federal agents attempted to enter the business in an effort to locate the individual but were denied access by VASA Fitness staff.”
According to the police department’s statement, officers responded to ensure public safety and maintain scene security.
“After a brief period on scene, the federal agency concluded its operations and departed the area without taking the individual into custody,” stated the department. “No arrests were made, no injuries were reported, and there was, and continues to be, no threat to public safety. The Villa Park Police Department subsequently cleared the scene.”
One year ago, in June 2025, Villa Park Chief of Police Todd Kubish issued a statement that noted that the Villa Park Police Department does not participate in immigration enforcement.
“Officers follow the Illinois Trust Act and do not ask about immigration status,” added Kubish in last year’s statement. He concluded that statement by advising anyone in need of help from police to call 911.
“If you need help, please call 911, no matter your status,” stated Kubish.
Earlier this year, on Jan. 12, the Villa Park Village Board approved an ordinance amending the village’s municipal code regarding the restricted use of village property for civil immigration enforcement activities. The ordinance approved during the Jan. 12 meeting prohibits the use of village property for “planning, staging, assembling, mobilizing, deploying, or otherwise supporting civil immigration enforcement operations.” According to the ordinance, those operations “are only allowed on village property upon the presentation of a valid warrant, and enforcement officers must remove face coverings and ensure continuous viability of their badges.” The ordinance did not clarify how the village would enforce the ordinance against federal law enforcement agents.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not release any statements immediately after the incident in Villa Park. Commenting on an unrelated incident last week, ICE stated, “Remember, ICE makes TARGETED arrests of criminal illegal aliens. If you see a Fugitive Operations team in your community, there’s a very good reason for it.”
