Most calls to the office of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, concern what he terms the “big bad bill,” otherwise known as the “big beautiful bill” signed by President Donald Trump on July 4.
But questions at Schneider’s most recent town hall, like those from Andi Kenney of Deerfield and Dr. Sarah Kelly, also focused on healthcare or fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Kelly said she was concerned about cuts to funding for low-income medical students creating exorbitant student debt, and Kenney wanted to know how to curb the alleged abuses of ICE personnel and the treatment of the people they arrest.
“Abuses we’re seeing day in and day out are significant and appalling,” Kenney said. “From the masked people who are not showing badges (and) not wearing badges to the detention facilities that are being constructed all around this country.”
Kenney and Kelly were among approximately 180 people who attended Schneider’s town hall Saturday in Lake Forest eager to learn what their congressman is doing to allay some of their concerns and fears.
After Schneider gave an update on the past few weeks in Congress since the signing of the controversial bill and its impact, 14 questions were asked with five about ICE, another handful about healthcare and the rest on a variety of other topics.
Schneider was not surprised at the criticism and fear of ICE. He said that after the event the officers’ behavior is not geared at law enforcement, but creating fear among people whether they are undocumented or not.
“ICE is terrifying people,” he said.
In response to Kenney’s concerns about ICE officers’ use of masks and an alleged lack of warrants, Schneider described the behavior he believes should be expected from all law enforcement officials.
“If there’s a knock on the door and it’s a police officer, you see the uniform, you see a badge with the name and the number, and you see his or her face,” he said. “That’s the way it should be. We should be able to see it is an officer of the city, the county, the state, the country.”
Though legislation is pending in Congress to require ICE officers to adhere to standard police behavior, Schneider said the Republican majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate will likely prevent it from passage.
Another person criticizing ICE agents’ tactics wanted to know what guardrails exist to make sure duties are performed as intended, and not to “terrorize communities.” Schneider talked about the protections contained in the U.S. Constitution which gives “all persons, not all citizens” the right to due process of law.
Explaining how White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller plans to eliminate guardrails, Schneider said everyone in the room, including himself, has a joint responsibility — to continue to make their voices heard.
“Steven Miller is counting on us getting tired, feeling defeated, getting defeated and giving up,” Schneider said. “We can’t get tired, we can’t get defeated and we must never give up. We also have the guardrails of the courts. The Constitution is a living document, and we’re watching it at a time of great dynamism and threat. We’re all in this together. We can’t let them beat us down.”
Stephen Ladewig of the Round Lake communities said fear is growing and overtaking people where he lives. He wanted to know what Schneider is doing to allay the fear and help those concerned.
“I am a Latino, and the son and grandson of immigrants to this country,” Ladewig said. “My community is scared. We had ICE in my community yesterday to sweep someone up from a local salon. My community members are not in the street anymore. We’re scared to be in the street.”
Explaining he has worked on immigration reform since he was first elected to Congress in 2012, Schneider said his office’s website contains information on the rights of immigrants, including those who are undocumented.
Healthcare advocates concerned that the Affordable Care Act does not give people adequate protection they can afford asked Schneider what could be done.
“We can move to at least a public option that gives that opportunity,” he said. “Everybody — whoever they are, wherever they live — everybody in the United States should have access to quality, affordable healthcare from providers they trust and know, where they are, when they need it. It’s that simple.”
Kelly expressed concern about cuts to financial aid or even student loans to low-income medical students. Schneider said the problem goes further than that, with the White House’s use of “ready, fire, aim” cost-cutting.
“The impact it will have is we don’t have enough doctors,” Schneider said. “Rural hospitals are in danger of closing because of the bill. If we had an emergency here in Lake Forest, there would be two, three or four ambulances out there. But in a rural community, it’s (at least) an hour.”
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