New group in Elgin immigration debate

A new group hopes to bring tolerance, understanding and respect into Elgin's debate about immigration.

SOAP, or Speak Out Against Prejudice, will hold a petition drive beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Elgin Township Hall, 729 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin.

The petition states that SOAP supports the law and neighbors and hopes to end prejudice and discrimination in Elgin.

SOAP Co-Chairman John Dalton said the group is about 60 people strong so far and doesn't have a preconceived goal of how many signatures to gather.

"I think everybody has the responsibility to stand up at some point and say, 'No, you don't speak for me,'" Dalton said. "The silent majority is going to be a lot more moderate and a lot more tolerant than anything that AFLA (Association for Legal Americans) has ever said."

The petition also states that groups such as AFLA has interjected "racist" elements into the immigration debate.

"While SOAP has the utmost respect for the law and law enforcement, the agendas of this and other like groups go much further than that, and to that extent we oppose them," part of the petition reads.

ALFA Co-President and Elgin resident Dan White said his group is opposed to immigration only if it's done illegally. He said AFLA is under fire because it recently presented city leaders with signatures from 3,000 residents.

"AFLA supports the law, law enforcement and our neighbors, just as SOAP claims in their petition," White said. "We are opposed to racism and are offended at their suggestion that we are prejudiced. In fact, we seek to make the distinction between legal and illegal in our community in an effort to end racist stereotypes."

Last week, Elgin leaders announced several steps to curb illegal immigration.

The city has applied to the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement Agency, or ICE, to participate in a host of programs offered under the federal Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security. In all, 13 programs are offered, but Police Chief Lisa Womack said she would not specify which ones police would pursue until officials could meet with ICE.

In March, the police will expand immigration screening to all foreign-born defendants booked at the jail using ICE's database. Illegal immigrants will be reported to ICE.

The city also will resume using a program called e-Verify to confirm Social Security numbers of new job applicants. In addition, city contracts will include random checks and audits on companies to ensure employers are following laws and not employing illegal immigrants.