Thread: Carpentersville: Trustees prodding D.C. on immigration

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... thwest-hed

Trustees prodding D.C. on immigration

George Houde

November 23, 2006

CARPENTERSVILLE -- Village trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved that a resolution requesting action on immigration reform and enforcement be sent to the White House and Congress.

"It's not an ordinance," said Village Manager Craig Anderson, referring to a separate, controversial proposal that would make it unlawful to hire or transact business with illegal immigrants. "It's meant to send a message to the new Congress that there's an immigration role to be played on the local level."

After lengthy debate, the resolution was adopted after a compromise was reached on adding the phrase "law enforcement" in addition to immigration reform.

"We need to go further than reform," said Trustee Paul Humpfer. "We need to enforce laws already on the books."

The resolution will be sent to Congress and the administration as soon as it is rewritten to include changes, Anderson said.

The proposed ordinance has been tabled indefinitely.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beac ... S1.article

Carpentersville: Immigration federal issue

November 24, 2006
By CHRISTINE S. MOYER Staff Writer
CARPENTERSVILLE -- Illegal immigration may affect village residents, but it is a national problem, not a local one, according to Village President Bill Sarto.

Carpentersville trustees this week approved a resolution that places the ultimate responsibility of curbing illegal immigration in Carpentersville on the federal government, not on the Village Board.

Carpentersville has been discussing a proposed Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act, which would address illegal immigration on a local level.

That ordinance, put on hold last month, would establish English as Carpentersville's official language and would set fines for employers and landlords who aid and abet illegal aliens.

The ordinance is based on one passed in Hazleton, Pa. Carpentersville trustees have tabled the local version of the ordinance, opting to wait for the results of a constitutional challenge to the Pennsylvania town's law.

Trustees insisted that this week's resolution will not replace local initiatives that may be implemented by the village in the future.

"This is not a local issue. This is a national problem," Sarto said before the meeting.

"Those people who think that this can be addressed locally, I think are misleading people, giving them some false hope that local government can take this national issue on -- and that's not the case."

This week's resolution states that illegal immigration adversely affects the country's social and economic well-being.

Among the areas negatively affected are the country's government, education system and health care providers, according to the resolution.

The resolution asks the federal government to immediately take actions to "effect comprehensive, meaningful and practical immigration reform and law enforcement."

Bob Sperlazzo, chairman of the nonprofit Fox Valley Citizens for Legal Immigration, was among approximately 70 people who attended the meeting.

He called the resolution "a good start" but contended that it does not go far enough.