Immigration still on Carpentersville board agenda

A standing-room-only crowd inside, and another 300 residents outside, gathered Tuesday at the Carpentersville village board meeting, where trustees were set to discuss another controversial proposal opposed by Latino residents.

Crowd members, mostly Latino, said they were there to fight a proposal that would allow police to impound vehicles of motorists driving without a valid license or insurance, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Violators would have to pay a hefty fine to the city before retrieving the vehicle.

Trustee Judy Sigwalt said she planned to present the measure for discussion Tuesday night.

But late Tuesday night, trustees had not yet had a chance to introduce -- much less consider -- the measure, as residents again lined up to weigh in on illegal immigration. The issue has divided the village since trustees proposed a crackdown on illegal immigration last fall.

Latinos gathered Tuesday outside village hall --listening to the meeting broadcast over loud speakers, speakers put in place to accommodate the overflow crowds the immigration issue has generated -- said the towing proposal constitutes another attack on their community.

"It's impossible to say they're not doing this to us," said Sergio Andalon, who added that he's been targeted for traffic stops because of the color of his skin.

If the village did institute a towing fee, it would further hasten the Latino exodus from town, Angel Delgado said.

"They're just trying to get rid of the Hispanic people," Delgado said. "People are trying to get out now, they're selling two, three houses on a block."