Controversial Immigrant Rights Resolution Postponed by Will County Board After Heated Debate

Will County Executive Committee Meeting October 9, 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee voted to indefinitely postpone a contentious resolution titled “Declaring Will County’s Commitment to Ensure Communities Can Live and Work Without Fear” after it drew accusations of containing false information and sparked a heated debate over its purpose and necessity. The resolution, which aimed to affirm constitutional protections for all residents regardless of immigration status, had generated nearly 300 public comments ahead of the meeting.

“Live and Work Without Fear” Resolution Key Points:

• The committee voted to indefinitely postpone Resolution 25-3117 amid controversy.

• Board member Daniel J. Butler alleged the resolution contained “false” information, including an accusation of a “kidnapping at a courthouse,” which he said he verified with the Sheriff’s office did not happen.

• Sponsor and Legislative Committee Chair Destinee Ortiz defended the resolution as a necessary affirmation of the U.S. Constitution’s 5th Amendment due process rights for “no person,” not just citizens.

• The postponement came after nearly 300 public comments on the issue were submitted to the county board.

JOLIET, IL – A resolution intended to affirm Will County’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all its residents was abruptly shelved on Thursday, October 9, 2025, after it ignited a firestorm of controversy over its factual accuracy and political implications.

The Will County Executive Committee voted to indefinitely postpone Resolution 25-3117, titled “Declaring Will County’s Commitment to Ensure Communities Can Live and Work Without Fear,” following a tense debate.

County Board Speaker Joe VanDuyne initiated the move to postpone, stating that after conversations with board members from “both sides of the aisle,” he believed the resolution “needs a little work.”

The resolution’s sponsor, Legislative Committee Chair Destinee Ortiz, supported the postponement to “bring more people to the table and strengthen it together.” She explained the resolution’s intent was to formally communicate the board’s stance on constitutional protections. “This resolution is telling our state and our federal legislators that we need to stand for our U.S. Constitution,” Ortiz said, referencing the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process for “no person,” regardless of citizenship. She cited recent incidents, including a federal judge’s ruling against ICE in Chicago and a case in Naperville where legally documented roofers were detained at gunpoint by federal agents.

However, the resolution faced fierce opposition from other board members who questioned its content.

“Most of the statements put in there were false,” board member Daniel J. Butler asserted. “There was no factual data to back it up. There was accusations of a kidnapping at a courthouse. None of that happened. I checked with the sheriff.” Butler argued it would be a “disservice to this county board to even attempt to put something like that out there.”

The debate drew in broader political frustrations. Board member Judy Ogala called the postponement a “disservice to the public,” noting that nearly 300 public comments had already been submitted for the scheduled vote. She also compared the resolution to the proclamations the board had previously agreed to stop issuing due to their divisive nature.

A motion by Butler to remove the resolution entirely was withdrawn in favor of the motion to postpone indefinitely, which ultimately passed. The hundreds of public comments received will still be provided to all board members for their review. It is unclear if or when a revised version of the resolution will be brought forward.