Waukegan Threatened With National Boycott

Waukegan Threatened With National Boycott

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

A national Latino labor group is threatening a boycott of Waukegan over a police training plan in that northern suburb.

**

Waukegan’s police department is applying for federal training to help identify and deport undocumented immigrants.

Deputy Chief Dan Greathouse says the targets will include drug dealers and sex offenders.

GREATHOUSE: “It’s not going to be targeted for traffic stops or DUIs or just anybody walking down the street. We’re not doing raids or anything to try to coral up as many undocumented immigrants as possible.”

But immigrant advocates aren’t convinced.

They’ve been fighting a three-year-old Waukegan ordinance that impounds cars of unlicensed drivers.

José Guzmán heads the city’s branch of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, part of the AFL-CIO.

GUZMÁN: “Immigration is a federal issue, not a city issue, not a state issue.”

The council’s national leader on Wednesday threatened a boycott of Waukegan.

I’m Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio.