Thread: Waukegan: Deportation training divides community

Deportation training divides community
July 10, 2007

BY ESTHER J. CEPEDA Staff Reporter/ecepeda@suntimes.com

Far north suburban Waukegan has become the latest local lightning rod in the battle to control illegal immigration.

At issue is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement training program, which would give police in the Lake County city of 83,000 the ability to trigger deportation proceedings for violent offenders.

The measure is pitting angry immigrant-activist organizations --who are asking residents to boycott businesses that fail to post orange posters opposing it -- against Waukegan officials. It's also stoking grass-roots anti-illegal immigrant groups and catching local businesses in the cross fire.

In late June, the Waukegan City Council authorized Police Chief William Biang to submit an application for two police officers to be trained for 287(g) authorization -- a federal program which would allow those officers to start deportation proceedings for legal and illegal aliens of all ethnicities who are convicted of violent offenses such as rape, murder, sexual assault, or drug violations.

Though the 287(g) program has been in effect since 2001 -- and to date there have been no complaints against law-enforcement officers across the country who have employed the training -- immigrant activists still are arguing that Waukegan's effort to have officers trained amounts to a push to get Latinos out of what was once a predominantly white, blue-collar community.

Biang, however, said he has been frustrated by misinformation about the program that has spread across Waukegan, which is now 54 percent Hispanic. Out of Waukegan's 166-officer department, about 25 officers are bilingual.

"It's not aimed at any one particular minority and doesn't apply to traffic violations or other misdemeanors," Biang said. "In many cases, these violent offenders currently slip through the cracks once they've been through the system."

"We're targeting criminals, not a minority group," Biang continued. "In fact, crime has gone down over the last 10 years as the Latino population has gone up."

Despite Biang's assurances about the program, it still has angered immigrant activist groups concerned that immigration enforcement powers will translate into racial profiling. They have called in volunteers from all over Chicago and the suburbs to canvass Waukegan and ask residents to boycott businesses that do not oppose the measure.

"The businesses that support us have orange posters saying 'No 287(g)' in their windows," said Lilia Paredes, vice president of the Chicago Chapter for Latin American Council for Labor Advancement, who said there are hundreds of businesses cooperating. "We are demanding they withdraw the application . . . and establish an independent review board for the police."

Besides Waukegan, there are about 75 similar applications for 287(g) training pending for certified law enforcement agencies across the country, according to Mike Gilhooly, an Immigration and Customs spokesman. He said, "The training includes Department of Justice Training designed to prevent racial profiling, as well as training in how to do the job while observing civil rights."

While Hispanic-owned businesses are proudly displaying their orange posters -- "We have to support the people, because from them we live" said Maria Ortiz, owner of Mary's Unisex Beauty Salon -- others in town are feeling the heat of a contentious issue.

"This is a no-win situation," said a local restaurant owner, himself a son of Greek immigrants. "I lose either way by supporting or not supporting them. And I think these people who are translating are not telling people the right thing. They're getting them all worked up. . . . People are going to get hurt."

As a result of the community's outcry, the 287(g) application will be reconsidered at a Monday, July 16, board meeting, though Mayor Richard Hyde has repeatedly said Waukegan will not back down.

Meanwhile, Waukegan Police are doing their best to clarify that they will not be going into homes or businesses or conducting roadblocks in search of illegal immigrants.

"If someone would just ask me I'd explain," said bilingual officer Jose Nieves. "It's just designed to go after dangerous felons, not the common hardworking person."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cepeda/462 ... 10.article

I think the Greek desended shop owner is correct about some of the translators not telling the truth to the illegals and about it being a lose/lose situation.
The local police are just trying to make the community as a whole safer.It is a shame that these "immigrant activists" keep misinforming those they are supposed to be helping.

I live in ground zero! Someone put it well in our paper this morning.

At the crossroads

The day has finally come. The city of Waukegan has finally reached the crossroads. Whether or not the city leaders stand their proverbial ground on the 287(g) issue is truly what the future development of Waukegan is resting on and will write the legacy for our city's future. It will likely determine their own political futures as well. I hope they are up to the challenge, as now is not the time to blink!

I will be going to the council meeting this Monday to hear the new vote for 287g. Sources say they should have the 5 our of 9 votes necessary to keep the process going -but I want to be there.

The article quotes an activist saying 100's of businesses are cooperating -I have not seen that. Also, it seems like the non-hispanic businesses are just as well shopped as they ever were.