Candidates for Elgin City Council disagree widely on the extent to which illegal immigration is a problem in the city.
The 10 answered a broad question on the topic during a League of Women Voters forum this week.
Anna Moeller believes the city needs to enforce its codes and laws, but feels the issue is overblown.
“I think it’s wrong we target a very vulnerable group within our community and create a culture of fear around that,” she said. “I think it’s not healthy for Elgin. It does nothing to move us forward and it’s destructive.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Manfred Czymmek said illegal immigration affects everything from property taxes to the education system. He believes the city should do a better job of code enforcement and that police should go through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement training. He would like police to have the power to demand identification from people.
“Elgin does not do enough, no matter what they tell you,” he said.
Councilman Mike Warren agreed with Moeller, saying the problem isn’t as extensive as some believe and the city has taken positive steps like auditing the contractors it hires.
Tish Powell said people violating laws and city codes should be dealt with, but she also believes there is only so much that can be done at a municipal level before there are expensive court challenges.
“As we look at our finances, I’m not in favor of putting us in a situation where we’d be spending money we really don’t have,” she said.
In the eyes of Councilman John Steffen, “it’s a scapegoat to try to target illegal immigrants,” when the real problem is large-scale immigration. He used the example of his own large extended family. The city is doing what it can in terms of illegal immigration by partnering with ICE and performing random checks of its contractors, he said.
The perception of Elgin as a safe haven for illegal immigrants is the real problem in the eyes of Toby Shaw. That perception could drive away businesses and the city should take a leadership role in combating it, he said.
Michael Curtin pointed to issues of uninsured drivers and overcrowded residences that stem from illegal immigration. He would like to see the city revamp its code department.
“We have too few code officers and too much red tape on our good landlords and no regulation on our bad landlords,” he said.
Shane Nowak believes the city needs to make sure it is enforcing its occupancy rules and also called for all city documents to be printed in English.
“Language is a way to bind the community together,” he said.
Mike Robins applauded the partnership between the police department and ICE, and also wants businesses getting city incentives tied to them hiring legal Elgin residents. He also criticized current council members for not believing illegal immigration is a significant problem, saying that is why it still remains an issue.
Tom McCarthy said he would simply like people who are in the country illegally to obey the law.
“All we want,” he said, “is for them to play by the same rules we have to play by.”
The 10 are vying for three available seats on the council. The election is April 5.
