Lewis University is pulling the plug on in-person classes at its Oak Brook site after confirming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is present in the same building.
The suburban Catholic university said all classes and activities at its leased site west of Chicago will be held virtually or canceled through Saturday, calling the move a precaution, ABC7 Chicago reported. About 500 students attend business and nursing classes in the office building at 1111 West 22nd Street in Oak Brook each week, a satellite to the school’s main campus in Romeoville, which serves roughly 7,000 students.
Provost Christopher Sindt told the outlet that the school first caught wind of federal activity over the weekend via social media posts pointing to a heavy SUV presence in the building’s parking structure. The landlord later confirmed that ICE is operating out of office space there.
“We felt like it was a really volatile, potentially volatile environment this week for our students to attend class,” Sindt said, citing concerns about possible protests.
Village President Larry Herman told the outlet that Oak Brook officials became aware that the Department of Homeland Security was leasing space in the building after police responded to a vandalism report Friday night. He emphasized that the property is not zoned for detention and that, to the village’s understanding, the space is being used for administrative purposes only.
“It is not zoned for a detention facility,” Herman said. “If they were to attempt to do so, it would be prohibited by our zoning.”
A processing and detention facility used by ICE and Customs and Border Protection already operates in Broadview, about six miles away.
In a statement to the broadcaster, DHS declined to confirm details about the Oak Brook site, saying: “Is it really news that when a federal agency hires more personnel, that they need more space?” The agency added that ICE plans to add 10,000 law enforcement professionals and cited an increase in threats against officers.
Lewis University said it hopes to continue using its Oak Brook classrooms as planned this semester, but has not made any decisions about its future lease.
— Eric Weilbacher
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