No-ICE demonstrators/Photo courtesy of WJBC.com.

By Howard Packowitz

Opponents of an immigrant detention center in Dwight are calling today a “day of action.” The Dwight village board is expected to vote tonight on annexing property near Interstate 55 and Illlinois Route 17 for the $45 million facility.  

No ICE Dwight is planning a rally and march to begin at the Amtrak Station at 5 p.m., about 90 minutes before the start of the village board meeting.  

The group is accusing Dwight Mayor Jared Anderson of trying to “greenlight” the proposal and silence opposition after cancellation of Saturday’s community information session at Dwight’s St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Last week, Mayor Anderson offered a defense of the proposal in a lengthy Facebook posting. He noted the detention center would create hundreds of high-paying jobs for the community. 

Anderson also said the non-criminal immigrants would be living in much more comfortable conditions than a prison cell, with amenities including indoor and outdoor recreational facilties, and access to iPads and immigration law books.

The Dwight Village Board meets tonight at 6:30 in the Dwight Township High School gym.