Thread: Carpentersville: Immig. law enforcement a waiting game/287g

Immigration law enforcement a waiting game
(http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article)

July 21, 2007

By Ben Lefebvre SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP

CARPENTERSVILLE -- This village's seven-month-old application for its police force to receive federal training on immigration enforcement is still pending, according to government officials.

Village Manager Craig Anderson told trustees recently that although the Department of Homeland Security gave initial approval to the village's request to join its 287(g) program, it still needs to officially sign off on it -- something that won't even be considered until October at the earliest.

Waukegan officials, following a tumultuous City Council session earlier this week, officially sent the city's application to the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency. More than 3,000 protesters were outside City Hall opposed to the measure.

Carpentersville Police Chief David Neumann said the only thing he's heard from the federal government is that the waiting game will continue for the foreseeable future.

"I got a phone call saying nothing would happen this fiscal year," which ends on Sept. 30, he said. "Doesn't mean anything will happen in October, either. It could be anytime in the next fiscal year. We could be sitting here talking about this next year, or maybe not."

The U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency created the 287(g) program in 1996, inviting local police departments to request training on immigration enforcement duties that include initiating deportment proceedings.

Widespread interest in the program didn't start until Florida police applied for the funding in 2002. Since then, 30 other departments across the country have joined the program, the vast majority in the past two years. Carpentersville applied in January.

Neumann said if the federal government does decide to work with Carpentersville police, the two agencies will have to enter into a formal agreement that the Village Board would have to approve.

"We'll make a decision with ICE, but we're looking at a small number," Neumann said. "Maybe two to four officers. We're not at that point yet."

Proponents of the program say it gives local communities a needed tool to combat illegal immigration and can also work as a cost-saving measure. According to a fact sheet ICE issued in August 2006, the Arizona Department of Corrections saved nearly $3 million in 2005 by identifying foreign prisoners in their system and turning them over to the federal government for deportation.

The program isn't without controversy, however. Some Latino groups argue that it results in unwarranted scrutiny on Hispanics and raises ethnic tensions even higher in places where communities are already divided over debates on illegal immigration.

Carpentersville Trustee Judith Sigwalt, one of the main supporters of the village's drive to join the program, said she is confident village police eventually will undergo immigration law enforcement training.

"Even though we have to wait, it's a good thing it's coming to our village," she said. "It'll help."

More than 3,000 protesters were outside City Hall opposed to the measure.

There were not 3,000. I could go to that picture and take a sampling of the number of heads. There were not 3,000. Maybe 2k but not 3.

Just another way not to enforce our laws!!!!!!

Dixie

Got a feeling that bush boy and Certoff are in league to nullify the 287 (g)program until the bush boy gets his way on amnesty.

According to the 2000 census Carpentersville had a population of 30,586. If there were 3000 protesters that would only be 9.8% of the population. That leaves 90.2% in favor. So isn't this a democracy in this country? What's the problem?