Although there was a demonstration Saturday in the historic Woodstock Square calling for the abolition of ICE, it might have looked a little different than previous protests and rallies that have been held earlier this year.

People still held signs, saying "America Runs on Immigrants," "Humans, not Aliens" and demanding the end of McHenry County's contract with ICE.

However, protest organizer Tony Bradburn said Saturday's event was a little less "rah-rah" and more about learning and growing.

"ICE is not just about the borders," Bradburn said. "ICE is right here in McHenry County."

Through its agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, McHenry County earns $95 a day for each ICE detainee held at the McHenry County Jail.

Sponsoring organizations of Saturday's protest included Activists for Racial Equity (Crystal Lake and Surrounding Communities), Elgin in Solidarity with Black Lives, Standing up Against Racism (Woodstock), McHenry Direct Action, Warp Corps of Woodstock and Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist: Social Justice.

"We want to make sure that people know about the stories of the voiceless," Bradburn said.

One of the stories told by Bradburn, submitted by someone before the rally, was about someone who's father was deported in 2013, when they were 10.

This person had to celebrate their quinceanera and graduation without their dad.

Several other people told stories at Saturday's rally, documenting tales of those who were afraid to get domestic violence help because they were undocumented, of a 15-year-old who spent their first Christmas in the U.S. in a detention center, and one person who said it would cost them $10,000 to become documented.

Luis Aguilar, a teacher in McHenry High School District 156, said a lot of his students are Hispanic, and some of them are DACA recipients, or DREAMers, who commit to work, school or the armed forces.

When he tells students there's an ICE detention center in Woodstock, he can see the fear reflect off their eyes, Aguilar told attendees.

"We must recognize that any profit made off of that detention center is made off of human misery," he said.

Amanda Garcia, an immigration lawyer from Crystal Lake, said people do not have a good impression of a community that supports an ICE detention facility.

Garcia spent 18 months working in McHenry County Jail, visiting there twice a week to provide legal orientations to those who did not have immigration attorneys.

When taking their information down, Garcia would ask where they lived before they were detained," she said.

"McHenry, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Carpentersville. They would tell me all the little towns they came from, and I knew where they were because that's where I go grocery shopping. That's where I live. That's where I come to spend the Saturday," Garcia said. "So these are real people in our community."

Adi Jimenez, of Woodstock, said she wanted to support immigrants in the community.

"I know a lot of people who are affected by this," she said. "They're afraid to go out and stand up for themselves because they don't know what's going to happen."

This is why Jimenez said she wants to use her privilege from being born in the U.S. to stand up for people.

" [ICE] is attacking a lot of people that don't really deserve to be targeted," she said. "There are a lot of children right now that are locked up in cages without their family members without their parents. They're just all alone and It's just really sad."

Woodstock resident Mariam Figueroa held a sign with the Bible verse Isaiah 1:17 written on it, which read "Learn to do right, speak justice defend the oppressed."

"This verse is so significant for why it's important to abolish ICE," she said. "People are coming, children, mothers without protection. They're seeking asylum, but they're turned away. But to be Christ-like, to be a Christian, means to help them.

"To be a real Christian, you need to really love and embrace everyone, even if they're different than you," Figueroa said. "Even if you're not a Christian, to love everyone is essential."

Haidy Perez, from Crystal Lake, said she has a lot of family who are immigrants and DACA recipients.

"ICE is something our country really doesn't benefit from anymore," Perez said. "If anything, I would say it is more fear-mongering than it is protecting us."

Perez said her father, although he is in the U.S. legally, has still gotten questions about his background and been detained.

"We're a nation of immigrants," she said. "Everyone comes from different backgrounds. I just feel like ICE has targeted my community and has really struck fear into the hearts of innocent people."

A resolution to cancel the intergovernmental agreement between McHenry County and ICE is on the agenda of the next Law and Government Committee meeting for the McHenry County Board, at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

At the event, attendees were encouraged to call members of the committee to encourage them to end the contract, and were given sheets of paper with their contact information.

Lillian Purich, with McHenry Direct Action, was disappointed with the response she got when she called McHenry County Board Member Bob Nowak.

She said when he picked up, he said: "What the [expletive] is going on?"

"Then I went to start talking and he just hung up," Purich said. "It's just not what I was expecting. You'd think if someone was on the board they'd be a bit more welcoming with a phone call from someone from the public."

Requests for comment from Nowak were not returned.

Organizers told people to be respectful, and only call board members from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Purich said.

She's not discouraged, however, adding that it just makes her want to call more.

"It's horrible that families are being torn apart from each other," Purich said.

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Locals call for end to ICE contract with McHenry County - Northwest Herald