Thread: Thousands see suburb delay immigration discussion

http://www.chicagotribune.com

Thousands see suburb delay immigration discussion

By George Houde
Special to the Tribune

October 3, 2006, 10:09 PM CDT

The Carpentersville Village Board postponed discussion Tuesday night of a proposed ordinance that targets illegal immigrants after a crowd estimated at 3,000 people arrived for the meeting.

Opponents far outnumbered supporters of the crackdown, which would deny a business permit to any employer found to have knowingly hired undocumented workers and would fine landlords $1,000 if they rented apartments to illegal immigrants.

It also would make English the official language for village documents, forms and signs.

The scene at Village Hall was a demonstration of the passions on both sides of the national immigration issue as Congress debates reforms and activists stage rallies across the U.S.

Outside Village Hall before the meeting, Nora Sandoval of Carpentersville held an American flag, accompanied by her daughter and grandchildren. She said hers was among the first Hispanic families to settle in the village in 1968.

"People come here to have a good life," Sandoval said. "Just being here says so much in support of the Hispanic community."

Eric Fredenburg of Carpentersville backed the effort to crack down on illegal immigrants.

"I'd like to know how many of these people are legal," Fredenburg said.

Don Lee of Carpentersville reacted to Spanish-speakers using a bullhorn to get across their message. "This is America, we speak English here," Lee said.

Acting on the advice of the village attorney, the Village Board voted to defer discussion of the proposal in order to find a bigger place because of the unexpectedly large crowd. The maximum occupancy of the board's meeting room is 212, according to village fire code.

Officials seemed surprised by the turnout, and police called in reinforcements from the Northern Illinois Police Emergency Alarm System. About 120 officers in riot gear assembled across the street from Village Hall.

Carpentersville Deputy Police Chief Mike Gillette said the department had planned to call for help if the crowd exceeded 1,000.

"The crowd was peaceful. I was very impressed," Gillette said.

Although some were disappointed by the postponement, Rev. Antonio Cabello, pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Carpentersville, said it was a good idea.

"I think people will cool down and come to their senses," he said. "You don't need to create such a divisive ordinance."

The board did not set a date or place for the special meeting that will consider the ordinance. It was tabled after Village President Bill Sarto said the board should follow the advice of Village Atty. James Rhodes.

Rhodes said the village needed to comply with the state Open Meetings Act.

"We need to make sure that everyone who wants to discuss and listen to this [debate] can be accommodated," Rhodes said.

The Carpentersville ordinance is modeled after one passed in Hazleton, Pa., after a series of violent crimes were committed by illegal immigrants. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups immediately challenged the measure in court, saying it was an unwarranted local intrusion on a federal matter.

Many Hispanic residents of Carpentersville have said illegal immigrants are such a vital part of local businesses that expelling them would mean economic disaster.

Laura Ornelas, a Carpentersville resident and employee of Carpentersville-based School District 300, said before the meeting Tuesday night that the proposal is troubling.

"They say we're criminals, but we're not," Ornelas said. "We're here to support our community and our friends and relatives. We're united against the ordinance."

Ornelas said she thinks the issue will eventually be decided by the courts and an ordinance, if upheld, could separate families.

"They say we take jobs away from the Americans, but the Anglos don't want to do the jobs we do," Ornelas said.

Tribune staff reporter John Keilman contributed to this report.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=234646

Village's immigration debate explodes
Carpentersville forced to delay discussion on ordinance as thousands protest

BY LARISSA CHINWAH
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Tuesday, October 03, 2006







A proposed ordinance in Carpentersville that would crack down on illegal immigrants drew thousands of protesters from across the region to village hall Tuesday night.

Chants of "U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A" punctuated the humid air. Mexican flags waved high above the crowd. Some protesters held signs that read, "USA is Made Up of Immigrants and We Are United," and "No Unfair Ordinance in C'ville." Speakers from various immigrant rights groups addressed the huge crowd predominantly in Spanish, which drew retaliation from others.

"Speak English. This is America. We can't understand you," they yelled.Residents walked from their homes, while busloads of protesters traveled from Chicago to participate in the rally.

A smaller number of supporters of the ordinance, including members of the Illinois Minuteman Project, also attended.

But the anticipated village board discussion was tabled because the board room could not accommodate the huge turnout.

Before the meeting, tension between supporters and detractors was clear. More than 2,000 people packed into the village hall courtyard and surrounding green area to weigh in on the issue that has driven a wedge between residents, immigration activists and anti-immigration activists since trustees Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt introduced their proposed ordinance last month.

To remain in compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, village trustees tabled the item until a larger venue was found to accommodate the hundreds of people who were denied entrance into the meeting. There was standing room only in the 212-capacity board room.

Village officials said they had not anticipated the turnout. No arrests were made during the protest.

"This is a little more than we expected, but everyone is well-behaved and I think we have it under control," Police Chief David Neumann said.

But residents said they were not surprised by the attendance numbers.

"Carpentersville and the surrounding areas are built up on immigration," said Manuel Ayala.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights organized the rally to oppose "the ill-advised and insulting proposal."

Jackie Herrera, the policy and training associate for the Chicago-based group, said the proposed ordinance is dangerous.

"The reasons they have for introducing the ordinance is to stop crime in the village," Herrera said. "But there is no documentation to support and back up their claims that these people are criminals."

Several residents said the proposal was not well thought out.

"The ordinance is unconstitutional and it is not taking into consideration their own history and backgrounds," said Horacio Minjares. "The people who are proposing these ordinances are ignorant of their history."

But those who support the ordinance said it is time for local municipalities to step in where the federal government has failed.

"It is important for people to follow the law," said Pam McConnell a member of the Illinois Minuteman Project who traveled from Mundelein. "It is law and order and without the law there is no order. "

The ordinance would deny licenses and permits to businesses that hire undocumented workers and fine landlords $1,000 for knowingly renting to illegal immigrants. The ordinance also would recognize English as the official language of the village, whose population of about 37,000 is more than 40 percent Hispanic.

The village board will continue the discussion and seek direction at a date and venue yet to be determined.

lchinwah@dailyherald.com

"They say we take jobs away from the Americans, but the Anglos don't want to do the jobs we do," Ornelas said.

Is this misinformed dipwad saying that only 'Anglos are American?'

What happened to the red, black & asians? Aren't they Americans? I'm very confused. It almost seems as though whites are being singled out here again As a matter of fact, I've noticed an awful lot of racism directed towards whites/anglos lately from this quarter.

Whoa...this is going to scare the pants off of my city from looking into this ordinance.

Incredible (but not in a good way).

By not enforcing our existing immigration laws, Bush has pitted us against them when it isn't even necessary. You'd think that Bush wants a stand-off.

Bused in and they should not even listen to illegals. They should not effect city law that is writen for citizens.

Originally Posted by Dixie

Bused in and they should not even listen to illegals. They should not effect city law that is writen for citizens.

That's what I'm thinking. The only people a city council should be responsible to are the actual taxpaying residents of the city or town in question. If I was running the show, I would require that any potential attendee bring a copy of a utility bill to prove residency before being admitted.

I was thinking the same thing 2ndamendsis. It not Americans....just Angelos. I mean are they so damned stupid as to think these jobs weren't done by somebody else before they got here? It makes me sick.

And I'm with you Crockett.......proof your a resident and leave your darn Mexican Flags at home. It's a meeting.....not a protest. Plus I'd add to find a sitter for the evening......it's not the place for children.

cit·i·zen
Pronunciation: 'si-t&-z&n also -s&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city
1 : an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a : a member of a state b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3 : a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

Several residents said the proposal was not well thought out.

res·i·dent
Pronunciation: 're-z&-d&nt, 'rez-d&nt, 're-z&-"dent
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin resident-, residens, present participle of residEre
1 a : living in a place for some length of time : RESIDING b : serving in a regular or full-time capacity <the resident engineer for a highway department>; also : being in residence
2 : PRESENT, INHERENT
3 : not migratory <resident species

Residents are not entitled to anything from the local government and their opinion is meaningless.