Jul 17, 2007 6:04 am US/Central
Waukegan Immigration Vote Leaves Some Afraid
Some Fear New Program Will Lead To Police Mistrust, Racial Profiling

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(CBS) WAUKEGAN, Ill. Some Waukegan residents fear a controversial immigration program that is moving forward will erode trust in police and result in racial profiling.

On Monday night, the Waukegan City Council voted to move forward with a controversial immigration program that gives police more teeth when it comes to enforcing the law.

As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, despite the emotion of the evening, Waukegan aldermen in an 8 to 2 vote decided not to reconsider a decision in June to go forward with an application with a special program that would train police officers to enforce immigration law.

The program, known as 287 (g), has caused so much controversy in Waukegan that police with riot gear were ready to manage a crowd of hundreds. Many of them were protesters trying to convince the council to see things their way – both for and against.

The population of Waukegan is 44 percent Latino.

Once trained, officers could identify, process and detain immigration offenders they come across on the job.

Waukegan police say if they are selected, this program will give them the power to get rid of rapists and murderers who are living in their community illegally. But hundreds of protesters fear that power will be abused.

"I don't think they should have done this because there's a lot of families here that have been here for a while and they have not done no harm," said Elizabeth Gonzales, who opposes the program.

But others said those who break the law should be held accountable, and the new law could ensure that happens.

“The people that are here illegally committing crimes should be deported,â€