Elgin to pursue illegal immigrants in city

Elgin leaders Tuesday announced several new steps they will take to help curb illegal immigration, including random checks on businesses that have city contracts and beginning a process to give police more authority.

An anti-illegal immigration group hailed the move as a great day for the city, while immigrant advocates said the city was butting into a problem that needs to be solved on a federal level.

Mayor Ed Schock said the moves were another step to help law enforcement fight crime and gangs and were not targeted toward a specific group.

"In no way do any of these measures mean we're going to ignore the basic civil rights of our residents, nor are we going to racially profile," Schock said. "We don't want to go down those roads. It's not fair for law-abiding citizens."

Here's what's planned:

• The city has applied to the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement Agency, or ICE, to participate in a host of programs offered under Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security, or ACCESS. In all, 13 programs are offered; city leaders have yet to specify which ones they plan to pursue. The process could take more than a year.

• As of March 1, the police department will expand immigration screening to all foreign-born defendants booked at the jail using ICE's database. Illegal immigrants will be reported to ICE. As of now, the department conducts checks on people accused of violent crimes, gang activity or serious drug charges that could merit deportation under ICE guidelines.

• The city also will reinstate using a program called e-Verify to confirm Social Security numbers of new job applicants. The system was put on hold last year because of a legal tug-of-war between the state and federal government.

• City contracts will include random checks and audits on companies to ensure employers are following laws and not employing illegal immigrants. Before checks were based on complaints.

Shirley Sadjadi, an Elgin attorney and immigration advocate, said she believes the steps are not out of line -- just as long as the new tools are used to enforce criminal laws and not immigration laws.

Sadjadi said she believes the city was pressured by the Elgin-based Association For Legal Americans.

"It's going to further divide the community, unfortunately. That is what my fear is. I hope it doesn't happen," she said.

David White, co-director of the group, said the association was "thrilled" and offered nothing but praise for city leaders.

"This really for the first time has shown that the city cares about the legal citizens of the community," White said. "This is going to recharge the community. This is going to give citizens hope. There's still more to be done, but this is a start."

Ricardo Meza, regional counsel of the Chicago branch of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the city apparently acceded to the demands of the association and called it "unfortunate."

Meza said he does not believe it is local government's place to enforce immigration laws.

"This anti-immigration sentiment is really causing certain folks to make demands on local government," he said. "The immigration debate is a federal and national debate and it should stay that way."