Fwd: * PRESS RELEASE* - PROPOSE WAUKEGAN BECOME A " SANCTUARY CITY "

[Margaret Carrasco]

                                                                                                                 November 21, 2016
                                           PRESS RELEASE
Contact : Margaret Carrasco                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                       cell#(312)246-1360
   
           PROPOSE  WAUKEGAN BECOME A " SANCTUARY CITY "                                                                                                                                                                            Resolution authorizing policy development to make Waukegan a sanctuary city
                                  DATE: Monday 11/21/2016
                                  TIME : 7pm
                                  WHERE: WAUKEGAN CITY COUNCIL #2 FLOOR
                                             .100 Martin Luther King Jr. Waukegan, IL 60085

Tonight, the City of Waukegan could be designated the 1st  “Sanctuary City ” in Lake County, Illinois as several

Latino community members and organizations  present a resolution to the council before January when Trump takes office.
" This designation would mean that the City of Waukegan municipal employees, including police, would  " NOT "ask people

about their immigration status during calls for service. It also means city employees wouldn’t round up undocumented

immigrants at the behest of the federal government. The policy would allow undocumented immigrants to contact law

enforcement if they’ve been a victim of a crime, witnessed a crime or otherwise need police services — without fearing reprisal. 

Cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Boston are already  sanctuary cities " according to

community activist Margaret Carrasco

Back in 2012, under the former Mayor Hyde and the current Mayor of Waukegan Wayne Motley who then was Clerk, the city

supported and voted in favor of 287{G} with only 1 Alderman voting against it,  Alderman Sam Cunningham. Since then

deportations including " incidental deportations " have occurred.This occurs when officers go to a house looking for a

criminal who NO longer resides in the house and  despite this demand proof of immigration status of every person in

the house and if undocumented take them to be deported.

" Currently, we have a very good relationship with the current Police Chief Wayne Walles and  want to continue this

relationship of trust we’ve built with the community  who need our protection by locally emphasizing crime fighting over

immigration issues,”  said Carrasco in a statement Monday. In light of the fact that newly elected President Donald Trump

has called for increased deportation of 11 million immigrants and since the City of Waukegan has a population of

approximately 90% Hispanics many who are immigrants therefore,  the time is now, given the uncertainty in the community

for us to take that step and to formalize our practices into policy. It is important to send a strong message to Waukegan

residents that in the City of Waukegan, they are going to enjoy the same access to city services they have now without

the fear of families being torn apart.

The Latino residents of Waukegan look forward to continuing to work together with the Police department to create a

legal framework to be prepared for the unknown of the Trump presidency — who is clearly a bigot, who has white

nationalists in his office. It is an unprecedented moment.”
The Latino community believe they will have support for the Proposal with the Aldermen and awaiting the

Mayor's response on the matter tonight.