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MESA — In 1997, Chandler police conducted a five-day sweep of the city for illegal immigrants, leading to 432 arrests and deportations and sparking outrage in the civil rights community.

Now, 10 years later, Chandler has come a long way since what became known as the "Chandler roundup," which targeted those who looked Hispanic and often without probable cause.

By most accounts, the Phoenix suburb has been successful in repairing its fractured relationship with the Hispanic community following the roundup. Hispanic leaders say the scars have faded over time, and city officials say there's less talk of the roundup these days.

And next month, the city is planning several events, including a Mariachi festival, to kick off its Hispanic Heritage month, and Chandler now has a diversity commission.

"I think it's a lot better today and I know that would never happen again," said Matt Orlando, one of three current Chandler council members who also sat on the council 10 years ago.

Councilman Martin Sepulveda, who also was on the council at the time of the roundup, said the mind-set of the Police Department at the time hadn't evolved with the city's population growth.

"Chandler was still a Wild West redneck town 10 years ago," he said.

At the time, Stephen Montoya, a Hispanic civil-rights attorney, represented 28 plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Chandler police violated his clients' civil rights during the roundup.

"They were basically saying that Chandler police had the right to stop anyone and question them," he said.

Montoya sued for $35 million in damages "to get their attention." The city eventually settled for $400,000.

In addition to the lawsuit, a report by then-Attorney General Grant Woods accused authorities of stopping people based on skin color and of breaking into the homes and businesses without warrants.

Now, the city still struggles with concerns over illegal immigrants and how to handle them. Concerns range from day laborers to police enforcement to redevelopment of the downtown.

Sepulveda said had it not been for the 1997 roundup, the city would be taking a more aggressive approach toward the Hispanic day laborers that gather downtown.

"It's made us gun-shy, especially on anything having to do with illegal immigration," he said.