"Over the last year, thousands of illegal immigrants and their families who live here have retreated from community life in Waukegan, a microcosm of a growing underground of illegal immigrants across the country who are clinging to homes and jobs despite the pressure of tougher federal and local enforcement," reports The New York Times.

Julia Preston's article (and accompanying audio slideshow) details how life has changed for immigrants living in Waukegan, Illinois, as anti-immigrant sentiment has intensified and the city and county have enacted harsh immigration enforcement measures. The article highlights the stories of several current and former Waukegan residents (including a National Immigrant Justice Center client) who say they are afraid to report crimes to the police or have moved away from the city because they fear deportation.

Preston also spoke to local business owners, who said that the heightened climate of fear is hurting the economy: a number of retail stores have already closed because immigrants are afraid to shop there. Some residents have even canceled quinceañera birthday parties and other celebrations because they are afraid of being targeted by police.

One of the National Immigrant Justice Center's primary reasons for opposing policies that encourage state and local enforcement of federal immigration laws (commonly referred to as 287(g) authorization) is because shifting federal enforcement responsibilities to police officers threatens to endanger immigrants' rights and hinder community policing efforts. Victims of violent crimes, particularly domestic violence, will not report crimes if they are afraid they may end up deported themselves.

Another immigrant, L. Gómez, 36, a Colombian recently on her way to becoming legal, said she had gone to the police and the courts in years past for protection from a violent husband. Since the crackdown, she said, she has avoided the authorities, even when her husband threatened her.

Waukegan Mayor Richard H. Hyde has always insisted his support of 287(g) and other harsh enforcement measures are "for safety only." But when policies are resulting in a residents leaving town, businessse closing, and growing distrust between a large percentage of the population and the police (Latinos make up 40 percent of Waukegan's population), who is safe?