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Jul 17, 2007 7:04 am US/Central
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Waukegan Immigration Vote Leaves Some Afraid
Some Fear New Program Will Lead To Police Mistrust, Racial Profiling
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) ―
Some Waukegan residents fear a controversial immigration program that is moving forward will erode trust in police and result in racial profiling.
On Monday night, the Waukegan City Council voted to move forward with a controversial immigration program that gives police more teeth when it comes to enforcing the law.
As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, despite the emotion of the evening, Waukegan aldermen in an 8 to 2 vote decided not to reconsider a decision in June to go forward with an application with a special program that would train police officers to enforce immigration law.
The program, known as 287 (g), has caused so much controversy in Waukegan that police with riot gear were ready to manage a crowd of hundreds. Many of them were protesters trying to convince the council to see things their way – both for and against.
The population of Waukegan is 44 percent Latino.
Once trained, officers could identify, process and detain immigration offenders they come across on the job.
Waukegan police say if they are selected, this program will give them the power to get rid of rapists and murderers who are living in their community illegally. But hundreds of protesters fear that power will be abused.
"I don't think they should have done this because there's a lot of families here that have been here for a while and they have not done no harm," said Elizabeth Gonzales, who opposes the program.
But others said those who break the law should be held accountable, and the new law could ensure that happens.
"The people that are here illegally committing crimes should be deported," said Alice Berczy.
"At the bare minimum we need to be able to deport people who've committed crimes," said Brian Jacobsen, who favors 287 (g). "If the argument is that we don't want to deport rapists and murderers that is crazy to me."
A news conference, prayer vigil and rally before the vote drew hundreds of people opposed to Waukegan joining the federal program. About 50 supporters of the measure -- some singing songs like "God Bless America" through bullhorns -- demonstrated across the street.
Police Chief William Biang said being part of the program would streamline the deportation process and cut down on bureaucratic hurdles.
"It has nothing to do with race," Biang said. "This has to do with getting criminals out of Waukegan."
Iris Lobo, 23, lives in Waukegan but is originally from Honduras. She held her 2 1/2-year-old son in her arms at the rally outside City Hall.
While police say they want to deport criminals, Lobo -- like many who oppose the proposal -- said she fears they will overstep the boundaries, leading to abuses against the immigrant community.
"Think about it. For any little reason they can pull you over and ask about your immigration status," Lobo said in Spanish.
There was also strong debate in the City Council meeting.
"I am opposed to 287 (g)," said Waukegan Alderman Tony Figueroa. That remark generated applause, which he asked spectators to stop.
But Ald. John Balen said, "If we don't obey the law, then we really don't have a country."
Balen initially voted for the measure but tried Monday to bring it back for another vote. Before the meeting, Balen said he knew little about the measure before the June vote but supported it out of respect for the public safety committee that moved the motion forward.
Since then, however, Balen said he's done research and believes Waukegan doesn't need the program to get serious criminals who are immigrants out of the community.
Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde and other officials have said the program would allow officers to start deportation proceedings for both legal and illegal immigrants convicted of crimes such as murder, rape and drug-related felonies.
Hyde has said the city won't participate in raids on employers or community groups, but that the deportation procedures would apply to offenders police encounter on the job.
If the federal government approves the application, two officers would get the special immigration training.
ICE currently has such agreements with law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Alabama Department of Public Safety/State Police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. About 75 applications from law enforcement agencies are pending, an immigration spokesman has said.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)