Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Recent controversies made an appearance again at Springfield City Council Tuesday night.

With ICE now looking for and deporting undocumented immigrants, council members wanted to know how those situations would be handled by Springfield Police.

Police Chief Ken Scarlette reminded Alderman that Illinois’ local law enforcement agencies are bound by the TRUST act of 2017, which generally prohibits local law enforcement in the state from particpating in federal immigration enforcement. He added however, that if any undocumented individuals were found to be engaging in criminal activity, they would be held accountable as any citizen would be.

Chief Scarlette was also asked by Alderman Roy Williams to comment on allegations of human trafficking in massage parlor businesses in Springfield, as many residents have expressed concerns that law enforcement was not taking the allegations seriously. He said the police department is aware of alleged illegal activity which would be investigated as any allegations of activity would be. He said that should serve as warning to any criminals and that the Mayor and Aldermen don’t want criminal activity in Springfield.

After heated debates at City Council regarding the appointment of former Ward 1 Alderman Chuck Redpath to the empty City Clerk’s seat, an ordinance was introduced to amend the 1988 City Code as pertaining to appointment procedures to fill offices of Mayor, City Treasurer, and City Clerk, heated discussion broke out between Aldermen Roy Williams and Brad Carlson. Williams wanted to vote immediately on the measure while Carlson wanted to hold it for debate.

Alderwoman Jennifer Notariano wanted to make clear that the motivation behind the ordinance is to have an open process for filing city offices in case there were any doubts. However the measure was held for debate.