Waukegan should abandon 287(g)

In my view, the City of Waukegan is not losing from the lack of federal assistance to implement the 287(g) program ("Mayors: Local Deportation Help Not There," May 27). From the start, Waukegan should not have adopted this program. The program encourages racial profiling and is easily abused.

Proponents of 287(g) claim that the program will help reduce serious crimes. However, with the program in place, police officers could create an excuse to pull someone over and demand proof of their immigration status. In a society where many individuals make rash assumptions that any Latino individual is undocumented, this program could be easily abused.

In addition, the program could prevent individuals from coming to the police for assistance, for fear of being questioned about their immigration status. As an example, undocumented individuals who are victims of sexual assault or domestic violence - who already face a multitude of psychological barriers to reporting crimes - will be even more deterred from reporting their attackers to the police.

Rather than lamenting the difficulties of implementing 287(g), Waukegan should abandon this flawed and dangerous program.

Aya Barnea

Highland Park