Thread: English-only push further drives wedge in community

Aug. 16, 2007, 6:26PM
English-only push further drives wedge in community
Immigrants in Chicago suburb say they no longer feel welcome
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5060854.html

By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press

CARPENTERSVILLE, ILL. — The promise of a better life drew Carlos Delgado to this small suburban Chicago community along the banks of the Fox River.

Here, housing was affordable, jobs available and thousands of other Mexican immigrants made him feel at home.

Ten years later, the 31-year-old construction worker no longer feels welcome — even though more than 40 percent of Carpentersville's 37,000 residents are Hispanic.

The Village Board passed a nonbinding resolution in June declaring English the town's official language, and is considering an ordinance to ban employers from hiring or landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

"I'm thinking of moving," said Delgado, a legal U.S. resident applying for citizenship whose Chinese-American wife is a U.S. citizen. "It's stupid to deal with all this stuff."

Long-simmering tensions over immigration that erupted here, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, are similar to those playing out nationally.

More than 90 cities or counties around the country have proposed, passed or rejected laws prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ them or training police to enforce immigration laws.

State governments introduced more than 1,100 immigrant-related bills and resolutions in the first four months of this year alone, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That's more than twice the number as last year. And approval of anti-illegal immigration ordinances has generated criticism, demonstrations and lawsuits in Valley Park, Mo.; Riverside, N.J.; Hazleton, Pa.; Escondido, Calif.; and the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch.

Not giving up
Hazleton's law would have penalized landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them. A companion ordinance would have required tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit. The American Civil Liberties Union sued in federal court to overturn the measures, which a judge struck down as unconstitutional.

Carpentersville officials were closely watching that court challenge to take cues on how to proceed with their own proposed ordinance. And now, even with the judge's decision in the Hazleton case, some Carpentersville officials said they aren't giving up.

The ordinance, which has lingered on meeting agendas for months, has been tabled until trustees vote to discuss it again.

Critics say such ordinances are racist, promote discrimination and violate federal laws. Restricting hiring practices, for example, is "clearly pre-empted by federal law," according to Tyler Moran with the National Immigration Law Center.

The Carpentersville ordinance has been before the Village Board since September. Some trustees have been working with attorneys from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, to redraft the ordinance and bolster it to withstand legal challenges.

"We're not backing down," said trustee Judy Sigwalt, longtime resident and vocal proponent. "We're not going away."

Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for FAIR, said local communities have the right to regulate local business practices and must take federal issues, like immigration reform, into their own hands.

"It's at the local level that the impact is felt," said Mehlman. "They've finally come to the conclusion that they can't sit around and wait for the federal government to get its act together."

Tensions in Carpentersville have been building since the issue of illegal immigration came up at a meeting of the village's audit and finance committee in September 2006.

Trustee Paul Humpfer claimed rental housing was overcrowded and ambulance bills were high because illegal immigrants were taking advantage of the health care system.

Those who support the measure also have complained about strained schools, a rise in crime and even public urination.

But others say the tensions stem from something else.

"There is a fear of people or of things being different," said Ed Yohnka, an ACLU spokesman. "There has been a kind of a collective amnesia about the way in which all of us ended up in this place called America."

Carpentersville grew during the late 1800s as European immigrants came to work in its factories. Later, it became a settling point for veterans returning from World War II and the Korean War because it offered housing incentives.

Over the past several decades, low-cost housing and work opportunities have made the village a center for a new wave of immigrants, especially from Mexico. In 1990, Carpentersville's population was nearly 17 percent Hispanic. Fifteen years later it had more than doubled to 41 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"To live in Carpentersville today, you don't need English," said Bonnie Nagel, who grew up here and teaches English as a second language at Dundee-Crown High School.

But no one knows how many illegal immigrants could be in Carpentersville. Residents estimate anywhere from a few hundred up to 7,000.

Village President Bill Sarto opposes the ordinance, saying it has "driven a wedge" in the community.

Sigwalt said the issue for the village is clear.

"We have said repeatedly it is not about race. It is about what is legal and illegal," she said. "And it's all these other people playing the race card."

""I'm thinking of moving," said Delgado, a legal U.S. resident applying for citizenship whose Chinese-American wife is a U.S. citizen. "It's stupid to deal with all this stuff."

Not sure what this guys problem is. Seems he doesn't want to speak English.

"To live in Carpentersville today, you don't need English," said Bonnie Nagel, who grew up here and teaches English as a second language at Dundee-Crown High School.

I would say this is a big problem. According to her, then it's OK for an American City to be transformed into a 3rd world foreign enclave.

"There is a fear of people or of things being different," said Ed Yohnka, an ACLU spokesman. "There has been a kind of a collective amnesia about the way in which all of us ended up in this place called America."

...does anyone, other than federal judges, immigration lawyers, socialists and immigration advocacy groups, give any credibility to ANYTHING that comes out of the ACLU's mouth???

Originally Posted by zeezil

Aug. 16, 2007, 6:26PM
English-only push further drives wedge in community

"There is a fear of people or of things being different," said Ed Yohnka, an ACLU spokesman. "There has been a kind of a collective amnesia about the way in which all of us ended up in this place called America."

No, ACLU, there is fear of people being ILLEGAL. Where is my recourse for someone who has done me bodily harm/ID theft if they have 50 alias, cannot be identified, and moves like a ghost? Where does anarchy end, ACLU???

ACLU, PLEASE DROP THE "A" FROM YOUR NAME AND REPLACE IT WITH "I" (FOR IDIOT OR ILLEGAL ALIEN). ACLU, you are a disgrace to Americans. You are not fighting for Americans. You are just fighting wherever you can make a buck and PUT YOUR NAME ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY MSM NEWSPAPER. We are on to you, ACLU.

PRESS "IDIOT" FOR ACLU.