Elgin Police Chief: Illegal immigration is a federal issue

Elgin Police Chief Lisa Womack Thursday during a conference call with other police chiefs reiterated her position that illegal immigration is a federal issue.

"If there was a local solution to this issue, and this goes back to my Texas roots, the border states would have already figured it out," said Womack, who was police chief in Sugarland, Texas, before coming to Elgin in 2005. "In my opinion, there is not a local solution."

Womack's remarks were made during a 45-minute conference call and discussion with the Sacramento-based Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative, which hopes to advance a dialogue on immigration reform.

Reporters from Chicago suburban news outlets and even The New York Times listened and asked questions.

Sheriff Richard Wiles of El Paso County, Texas, and Chief Sam Granato of the Yakima, Wash., police, also spoke.

Womack talked for five minutes in general terms about immigration's effect in Elgin and took several questions from reporters.

Wiles and Granato said the large majority of illegal immigrants are in the United States for economic reasons. They said illegal immigrants are often targeted for crimes because victims are afraid police will deport them.

Some Elgin groups, such as the Association for Legal Americans, have pressured the city to do more to fight illegal immigration.

Two years ago, the city enacted several steps, such as using e-Verify to double check Social Security numbers of new city employees and auditing companies that do business with the city to ensure their employees are in the United States legally.

Womack said Elgin police check the residency status of all who are arrested and report that information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE generally only deports people who commit violent crimes, are gang members, sex offenders or drug dealers.

Elgin police do not check residency status of people reporting crimes, Womack said.

Womack said there is a misconception in the community that Elgin police can deport illegal immigrants.

"There is a perception, a feeling and at times a demand, to enforce residency status," Womack said.

"Immigration law and enforcement is a federal law enforcement matter ... We have no one voice on this issue and it has been polarizing at times for this community."

The two other chiefs said they don't have the resources to enforce immigration laws and doing so would destroy trust and goodwill built up within the Hispanic and minority community.

They compared the immigration situation to the absurdity of asking police to collect taxes for the Internal Revenue Service.

Womack, like the other chiefs, called on federal lawmakers to enact clear, concise and consistent immigration reform.

"This is a problem that has gone on too long," Granato said. "It's time this Congress and this President step up to the plate and give us some reform."

Womack also stressed that she was not endorsing or backing any political agenda, but noted that "securing the borders is absolutely the first step."