City keeps its immigration law

July 17, 2007
BY Nathaniel Hernandez Associated Press

WAUKEGAN -- Officials will not reconsider a proposal that could lead to local police enforcing federal immigration laws, a measure that has galvanized activists on both sides of the issue in this city.

The 8-2 vote by the Waukegan City Council on Monday night allows police to apply for a special "287(g)" program through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as early as today. Once trained, officers could identify, process and detain immigration offenders they come across on the job.

The council voted 7-2 in June to apply for the program, but a member who voted for it then tried to call it back for reconsideration. Monday's majority included Mayor Richard Hyde, who did not vote in the previous meeting.

Seats at the council meeting were in such demand that police distributed 400 tickets for admission. But the chambers held fewer than 200 people, and so about 100 people waited in line outdoors, hoping for a seat.

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 such as 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."

According to a 2005 Census report, the city has about 82,000 residents, with about 53 percent of the population identifying themselves as Latino or Hispanic.

Iris Lobo, 23, lives in Waukegan but is originally from Honduras. 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.

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.

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