McHenry County Blog

A major article stuffed with information about McHenry County law enforcement officials’ treatment of Latinos stopped for traffic offenses appears on The Chicago Reporter’s web site.

Written by Fernando Diaz, the article starts with the Crystal Lake arrest of 2003 Honduran immigrant Osman Maldonado by a McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy.

The cigarette run resulted in the deputy’s finding a fake green card after examining Diaz’ wallet.

That led to a felony arrest for possession of fraudulent documents for 25-year old employed father of two.

After thirty days in jail Diaz plead guilty to a misdemeanor. On that same day the sheriff’s department took him to immigration court. With an electronic ankle device, he now faces deportation.

The next mention of McHenry County is way down in the article and the Zane Seipler suite against Sheriff Keith Nygren is the focus. See

“Driving While Black” or “Profiling Caucasians?”

What Ex-Deputy Sheriff Zane Seipler Says the Department is Doing Wrong

Discrimination Suit against McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Makes Fox TV

According to the article, in his suit, Seipler, whose wife is Mexican, Seipler

“alleged that the office is targeting Latinos—proxy for undocumented immigrants, he said—for traffic stops.

“Seipler said things changed soon after the county began cooperating with the immigration agency in 2006 and started providing space for immigrant detainees at the McHenry County Jail—for $85 per detainee a day. Seipler said he began noticing the pattern that more Latinos drivers were being arrested. ‘The goal was to keep the immigration wing packed,’ he said.”

Seipler asked for an investigation and was eventually fired, the article says, for “violating rules and regulations.”

Seipler sued last November.

Nygren told the reporter that Seipler’s allegations, which were investigated multiple times, are completely false and offered these direct quotes:

“I’ve been sued a lot [during] 42 years, [but] this is the worst that I have ever seen leveled at anybody with no basis in fact.

“I’m not going to tell you we don’t have people with prejudices and bias, but if we had someone enforcing the law based upon their bias, we would take action. We would not tolerate it.”

What do the statistics show?

The Chicago Reporter dug out this information:

“Since 1996, law enforcement agencies in McHenry County have filed charges against about 3,000 individuals for driving without a license and, since 1999, filed more than 500 charges for those who were in possession of fraudulent documents, according to the Reporter’s analysis.

“But many of these charges have come from only a handful of communities. Five communities, including Harvard, Woodstock and Crystal Lake, racked up 70 percent of all charges.”

How big is the problem?

State Rep. Edward Acevedo estimated that there are 250,000 “undocumented” driving without licenses or insurance.

The article also tells of suburban communities seeking 287(g) authority to enforce immigration law.

McHenry County Blog wrote extensively of how Ohio’s Allen County Sheriff Daniel Beck enforces immigration laws with 287(g) authority. The articles can be found below:

Fighting Republican Courthouse Corruption,

Motivation for Getting Involved with the Fight Against Illegal Aliens

The Rule of Law

Enforcement Techniques, specifically, how 287(g) training is not necessary to get started,

Idendtity Theft Enforcement,

Other Crimes by Illegal Aliens,

Terrorism and Bondage, and

The Critics

What Daniel Beck Told the Minutemen at MCC – Part 9 – What Wouldn’t Fit Elsewhere, Including Retirement Plans

Other articles about the Minuteman meeting include

“Minutemen Are Back with Sheriff Dan Beck Seminar”

“Minuteman Meeting at MCC Peaceful; Protestors Missing in Action”

“Dissatisfaction Expressed with Sheriff Keith Nygren at MCC Minuteman Meeting”

“The Goals of Mexico”

“So Many Illegals, I Could Not Get a Job”

= = = = =
The top sheriff is McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

The picture next to the Sheriff Dan Beck articles is of Beck. The section of the McHenry County Jail shown is the floor rented by the U.S. Immigration Service.

When I drove into the McHenry County College entrance with the traffic lot I was stopped by two men in reflective coats and asked where I was going. I told them I was going to write an article on the Minuteman meeting. They directed me to a parking lot near the auditorium.

I went toward the library side and found the entrance blocked with yellow tape, so I turned around and went in the other way, getting a parking space right in front of the entrance.

Next I was asked if I had a ticket. I told them Rosanna knew about my coming and was allowed to pass through the “ticket holder” entrance.

Having drunk too many Diet Cokes, I went to the bathroom and was rather surprised at all of the college administrators and Crystal Lake police present.

The reason might have been explained by a conversation Rosanna Pulido related during the meeting. As Pulido relayed it, her Crystal Lake attorney Suzanne Walters was talking with MCC President Walt Packard. He told Walters that he knew what the Minutemen were all about. That we incite violence. Packard was asked how he knew that was told he went to Google.

“That’s your college president,” Pulido said from the MCC auditorium stage.

I asked where the protesters were and was told that there was a place for them at the other side of the building. Then, I walked around the complex until I saw an MCC mini-bus with an employee nearby. I didn’t see anyone carrying signs, so I asked where the demonstrators were.

He told me they were a couple of cars with people inside them. I saw two people standing near a car in one parking lot.

Not much of a demonstration.

Considering how much fuss the Crystal Lake police made about the meeting that the Holiday Inn canceled when the McHenry County Peace Group announced it was going to demonstrate on Route 31, I was surprised.

When I drove into the McHenry County College entrance with the traffic lot I was stopped by two men in reflective coats and asked where I was going. I told them I was going to write an article on the Minuteman meeting. They directed me to a parking lot near the auditorium.

I went toward the library side and found the entrance blocked with yellow tape, so I turned around and went in the other way, getting a parking space right in front of the entrance.

Next I was asked if I had a ticket. I told them Rosanna knew about my coming and was allowed to pass through the “ticket holder” entrance.

Having drunk too many Diet Cokes, I went to the bathroom and was rather surprised at all of the college administrators and Crystal Lake police present.

The reason might have been explained by a conversation Rosanna Pulido related during the meeting. As Pulido relayed it, her Crystal Lake attorney Suzanne Walters was talking with MCC President Walt Packard. He told Walters that he knew what the Minutemen were all about. That we incite violence. Packard was asked how he knew that was told he went to Google.

“That’s your college president,” Pulido said from the MCC auditorium stage.

I asked where the protesters were and was told that there was a place for them at the other side of the building. Then, I walked around the complex until I saw an MCC mini-bus with an employee nearby. I didn’t see anyone carrying signs, so I asked where the demonstrators were.

He told me they were a couple of cars with people inside them. I saw two people standing near a car in one parking lot.

Not much of a demonstration.

Considering how much fuss the Crystal Lake police made about the meeting that the Holiday Inn canceled when the McHenry County Peace Group announced it was going to demonstrate on Route 31, I was surprised.

And at McHenry County College, would you believe?

The Minuteman’s last scheduled seminar was pretty much shut down by the Crystal Lake Police’s informing the Holiday Inn that it would cost $3,500 for police services because of the McHenry County Peace Group’s announced demonstration at the intersection of Three Oaks Road and Route 31.

Subsequently, the Peace Group held a seminar on immigration at MCC.

Now, the Minuteman Project has apparently gained similar access to college facilities.

At least that’s what the following press release leads me to believe:

The Illinois Minuteman Project welcomes
Sheriff Daniel Beck to McHenry County College!

Friday Oct 26Th 2007 From 6:30-10pm

We are excited to bring Sheriff Daniel Beck and his deputies to tell us how they are enforcing existing laws and curbing illegal immigration in Allen County, Ohio.

With the Federal Government telling Waukegan, Illinois that it will be 2 years before Waukegan Police Officers get to attend training for 287G, we obviously need different answers!

Sheriff Beck has them!

He will talk to us about his program and how he simply uses the laws on the books to deport people who are in the United States unlawfully.

Fox News National will be doing a piece on Sheriff Beck and his work in Ohio in the next few weeks! We will be looking forward to that. Sheriff Beck’s message must get out to the over 50 cities ready to enact 287G training and are being told about this delay because of funding.

Tickets for the Oct 26Th 2007 6:30-10pm event will go on sale Oct 1st 2007

Tickets are 10 dollars for members of the Illinois Minuteman Project, and Members of FAIR and Members of Numbers USA. (MEMBERSHIP HAS IT’S REWARDS!)

Tickets for all others are 50 dollars apiece. No tickets will be sold at the door.

All attendees will be asked to sign in the day of the event with a picture ID.

Other speakers will include Dave Gorak from Numbers USA.

We have extended an invitation to State Senator Pam Althoff and also Crystal Lake
State Rep Michael Tryon to address the audience.

Hope to see you there!!

And at McHenry County College, would you believe?

The Minuteman’s last scheduled seminar was pretty much shut down by the Crystal Lake Police’s informing the Holiday Inn that it would cost $3,500 for police services because of the McHenry County Peace Group’s announced demonstration at the intersection of Three Oaks Road and Route 31.

Subsequently, the Peace Group held a seminar on immigration at MCC.

Now, the Minuteman Project has apparently gained similar access to college facilities.

At least that’s what the following press release leads me to believe:

The Illinois Minuteman Project welcomes
Sheriff Daniel Beck to McHenry County College!

Friday Oct 26Th 2007 From 6:30-10pm

We are excited to bring Sheriff Daniel Beck and his deputies to tell us how they are enforcing existing laws and curbing illegal immigration in Allen County, Ohio.

With the Federal Government telling Waukegan, Illinois that it will be 2 years before Waukegan Police Officers get to attend training for 287G, we obviously need different answers!

Sheriff Beck has them!

He will talk to us about his program and how he simply uses the laws on the books to deport people who are in the United States unlawfully.

Fox News National will be doing a piece on Sheriff Beck and his work in Ohio in the next few weeks! We will be looking forward to that. Sheriff Beck’s message must get out to the over 50 cities ready to enact 287G training and are being told about this delay because of funding.

Tickets for the Oct 26Th 2007 6:30-10pm event will go on sale Oct 1st 2007

Tickets are 10 dollars for members of the Illinois Minuteman Project, and Members of FAIR and Members of Numbers USA. (MEMBERSHIP HAS IT’S REWARDS!)

Tickets for all others are 50 dollars apiece. No tickets will be sold at the door.

All attendees will be asked to sign in the day of the event with a picture ID.

Other speakers will include Dave Gorak from Numbers USA.

We have extended an invitation to State Senator Pam Althoff and also Crystal Lake
State Rep Michael Tryon to address the audience.

Hope to see you there!!

The following was received from Rosanna Pulido, the director of the Illinois Minuteman Project:

If you are not outraged you aren’t paying attention.

Where do we go from here?

The residents of Crystal Lake have only heard one side of the story!

The Holiday Inn’s side.

I must admit I was taken aback to read their account of the series of events that they say took place concerning the Sheriff Beck Immigration conference.

More will be revealed in the coming weeks.

I have heard from many fine citizens and the outrage they have because those who we have voted in to serve the people have forgotten where their allegiance should lie. It is simply to the rule of law and the principles they promised to uphold.

After reading about the sensitivity training junkets taken by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Keith Nygren’s Dept, the States Attorney Lou Bianchi, the Woodstock mayor and others, I decided to work with Judicial Watch out of Washington D.C. I filed a freedom of information act request to find out the particulars of the trip and, you can guess that I did not receive have of the information I requested. It also makes me wonder if the events that have taken place in Crystal Lake are backlash.

What should be the reaction of the fine citizens in Crystal Lake and McHenry County?

Elections will be coming up soon and we must know where every candidate stands on Illegal Immigration. We must make our informed choices at the ballot box. We must take responsibility for what is happening to the land of the free and home of the brave. We must get out of our comfort zone and get politically active.

I have met a police chief named Garret Chamberlain and a Sheriff named Daniel Beck who are American Heroes.

They have taken an oath of office to protect American citizens. They have throw political correctness out the window. Their insight and excellence in dealing with illegal immigration must be shouted from the roof tops.

We must be choosing Men and Women like them who have integrity and an allegiance to the Citizens of the United states. I urge the Citizens of Crystal lake to contact the Illinois Minuteman Project and join us as we take the next step to take back cities, state and country.

Rosanna Pulido, Director
Illinois Minuteman Project

Illinois Spokesperson
You Don’t Speak for Me
American Hispanics against Illegal Immigration

There’s even a blog.

The following was received from Rosanna Pulido, the director of the Illinois Minuteman Project:

If you are not outraged you aren’t paying attention.

Where do we go from here?

The residents of Crystal Lake have only heard one side of the story!

The Holiday Inn’s side.

I must admit I was taken aback to read their account of the series of events that they say took place concerning the Sheriff Beck Immigration conference.

More will be revealed in the coming weeks.

I have heard from many fine citizens and the outrage they have because those who we have voted in to serve the people have forgotten where their allegiance should lie. It is simply to the rule of law and the principles they promised to uphold.

After reading about the sensitivity training junkets taken by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Keith Nygren’s Dept, the States Attorney Lou Bianchi, the Woodstock mayor and others, I decided to work with Judicial Watch out of Washington D.C. I filed a freedom of information act request to find out the particulars of the trip and, you can guess that I did not receive have of the information I requested. It also makes me wonder if the events that have taken place in Crystal Lake are backlash.

What should be the reaction of the fine citizens in Crystal Lake and McHenry County?

Elections will be coming up soon and we must know where every candidate stands on Illegal Immigration. We must make our informed choices at the ballot box. We must take responsibility for what is happening to the land of the free and home of the brave. We must get out of our comfort zone and get politically active.

I have met a police chief named Garret Chamberlain and a Sheriff named Daniel Beck who are American Heroes.

They have taken an oath of office to protect American citizens. They have throw political correctness out the window. Their insight and excellence in dealing with illegal immigration must be shouted from the roof tops.

We must be choosing Men and Women like them who have integrity and an allegiance to the Citizens of the United states. I urge the Citizens of Crystal lake to contact the Illinois Minuteman Project and join us as we take the next step to take back cities, state and country.

Rosanna Pulido, Director
Illinois Minuteman Project

Illinois Spokesperson
You Don’t Speak for Me
American Hispanics against Illegal Immigration

There’s even a blog.

Tuesday, a Chicago Sun-Times page two photograph and headline told the story of what happened in Waukegan as its city council voted to continue on the path of training two supervisory policemen in how to detain murders, rapists and other heavy-hitting criminals prior to deportation.

It is amazing that anyone would object to local police playing such a role.

But 3,000 showed up to oppose the action.

Wednesday, the new, self-proclaimed “liberal” editorial page of the Sun-Times threw me a curve.

Take a look at the headline, which I consider eminently appropriate, and tell me how the “liberal” editors reached such a logical conclusion.

Illinois Minutemen are sponsoring a seminar on the topic of enforcement on August 25th at Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn. The event requires purchase of a $10 ticket.

The group is bringing in Sheriff Dan Beck of the 108,000-population Allen County, Ohio, to tell of how he has deported 80 illegal aliens in the last year and a half. My guess is they want those who hear him to help pay for his travel expenses.

For tickets, mail a $10 check made out to the Illinois Minuteman Project to P.O. Box 911, Skokie, IL 60076. For more information, call Illinois Minuteman Project Director Rosanna Pulido at 773-250-3399. Pulido is of Mexican heritage.

Tuesday, a Chicago Sun-Times page two photograph and headline told the story of what happened in Waukegan as its city council voted to continue on the path of training two supervisory policemen in how to detain murders, rapists and other heavy-hitting criminals prior to deportation.

It is amazing that anyone would object to local police playing such a role.

But 3,000 showed up to oppose the action.

Wednesday, the new, self-proclaimed “liberal” editorial page of the Sun-Times threw me a curve.

Take a look at the headline, which I consider eminently appropriate, and tell me how the “liberal” editors reached such a logical conclusion.

Illinois Minutemen are sponsoring a seminar on the topic of enforcement on August 25th at Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn. The event requires purchase of a $10 ticket.

The group is bringing in Sheriff Dan Beck of the 108,000-population Allen County, Ohio, to tell of how he has deported 80 illegal aliens in the last year and a half. My guess is they want those who hear him to help pay for his travel expenses.

For tickets, mail a $10 check made out to the Illinois Minuteman Project to P.O. Box 911, Skokie, IL 60076. For more information, call Illinois Minuteman Project Director Rosanna Pulido at 773-250-3399. Pulido is of Mexican heritage.