Collision course on 287(g)
Waukegan will become ground zero Monday for clash of wills on extended immigration enforcement

July 13, 2007
By RYAN PAGELOW rpagelow@scn1.com

WAUKEGAN -- Groups on both sides of the debate over whether to give Waukegan police authority to perform some federal immigration functions are gearing up for Monday when the City Council will reconsider the issue.

More than 100 supermarkets, small shops and restaurants in Waukegan are displaying orange signs in their windows in opposition to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement training program that would give police the ability to launch deportation proceedings against violent offenders. Immigrant rights groups are urging the community to attend the council meeting and are circulating petitions among voters and businesses to present at that meeting.

Meanwhile, groups favoring stricter immigration enforcement have planned an immigration conference Saturday and a campaign Sunday to shop at Waukegan businesses that support the extension of immigration powers to police. Some of them also plan to attend Monday's City Council meeting.

On the council's agenda that evening is a motion that was presented by 2nd Ward Ald. John Balen and seconded by 5th Ward Ald. Edith Newsome to reconsider the application for 287(g) authorization, which would allow two trained officers to start deportation proceedings for legal and illegal aliens convicted of violent offenses such as sexual assault, murder or drug violations.

Organizers of the boycott, who encourage people to shop only at stores displaying the orange signs in opposition to 287(g), have estimated that "hundreds" of businesses are participating but did not give an exact number or a list of them. Waukegan is home to more than 1,200 businesses.

Lilia Paredes, an organizer with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement in Chicago, showed a stack of petitions from business owners who formally oppose 287(g) during a news conference Thursday in front of City Hall. The petitions will be presented to the council Monday.

Julio Mejia, owner of Mas por Menos supermarket in Waukegan, has one of the orange signs in his window showing his opposition to 287(g).

"We're completely against 287(g)," said Mejia, a Honduran immigrant whose consumer base is primarily Latino.

He's seen a small drop in business since the City Council passed a resolution to apply for 287(g) authorization in June and expects his business to drop more if ICE grants Waukegan police that authority.

"It's going to affect everyone," he said. "People are scared."

Across the street at Family Dollar, a national chain, there is no sign and business is normal, said store manager Latoya Dodson. Fliers not related to the store cannot be displayed in the window unless approved by corporate headquarters.

"They don't try to get into stuff like that. We try to stay neutral," Dodson said.

One of the largest businesses participating in the anti-287(g) campaign is Lewis Produce Market, which provided a skid of water bottles during a community meeting of 287(g) opponents at Belvidere Mall last Saturday.

"Business is down, that's for sure. I don't know if it's because of that," said Gus Georges, a Greek immigrant.

Most of his store's clientele is Hispanic, he said, but he didn't want to comment on 287(g) specifically.

"Actions speak for themselves," Georges said.

Several businesses, one from each ward, plan to attend a private meeting Friday with Mayor Richard Hyde to press their case in opposition to 287(g).

Fred Flannigan, the host of a radio program on WKRS-AM, is organizing Saturday's immigration conference at the College of Lake County in Grayslake with representatives of local and national groups pushing for strict enforcement of immigration laws. That conference is scheduled to begin at noon with the screening of the film "Border" and a presentation by relatives of jailed former border patrol agent Ignacio Ramos.

Flannigan is urging his listeners to show up at Monday's council meeting in support of implementing 287(g). He's also helping to promote "Shop in Waukegan Day" on Sunday at businesses that do not have the orange opposition signs.

"They've managed to put a target on their own stores. Basically, they said don't shop here if you're in favor of Waukegan enforcing the law," Flannigan said. "We're trying to put together a list of businesses that also sell on the Internet. Obviously, a lot of people are not local residents."

Rick Biesada, a give resident who also leads the Chicago Minuteman Project, said he plans to attend Monday's council meeting.

"A couple of us are planning on going," Biesada said. "We're going as individuals, nothing organized."

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