http://www.nbc4.com/news/9940049/detail.html

HERNDON, Va. -- The town council in Herndon voted in favor of a proposal to give some of its police officers Immigration and Customs Enforcement training.

Herndon's Police Chief Toussaint Summers wants some of his officers to be enrolled in the agency's five-week "287(g)" program.

The training would give his officers the ability to begin detention and deportation procedures for any illegal immigrant arrested for a crime.


After a meeting Tuesday night, the council voted 6-1 in favor of the training. ICE would have to approve the training in order for the plan to move forward.

The meeting, which was open to the public, highlighted tension in the city's Latino community. Herndon has the highest proportion of foreign-born residents than any other locality in the Washington area, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Dozens spoke out on both sides of the issue.

Resident William Campenni used sketches showing the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, saying that three of the hijackers stayed in Herndon the night before.

"We might have 184 of our neighbors still around today if somebody had stopped those people along the way and said, 'Wait a minute. Let's dig farther into this,'" Campenni said.

Other residents said they feel local police have all the power they need.

"It's unnecessary and it's also dangerous for people who might be accused of something or suspected of something and would have no recourse," said resident John Denoyer.

Summers' proposal comes at a time when major crime in Herndon has dropped sharply. In his presentation to the council, Summers said crimes such as murder, rape and robbery declined 26 percent between 2002 and 2005.

Residents said they do not want to be seen as anti-immigrants, but that they feel that the federal government has not come up with answers, so town council would have to decide whether to take matters into its own hands.

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It seems like the City of Herndon has done a complete turn around. I think the tide is growing and I hope it continues!