Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 3/31/'06

3/31/'06 - The following article(s) were found in the media.  Several stories are provided ... with links to the original sources ... for your convenience:

• In Georgia, Immigration Is No Peach (WSBTv - Business Week)
  
• Special: Hispanics say no to SB 529 (Atlanta Latino)
  
• Legislators beat the clock (AJC)
  
• Perdue won't say whether he will sign immigration bill (AP)
  

The following story was found in 40+ media publications ...
Original Source:
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2006/nf20060331_2461.htm

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http://www.wsbtv.com/money/8381113/detail.html
In Georgia, Immigration Is No Peach

As One Of The Top Destinations For Hispanics, The State Is At The Forefront Of The Controversy About A Proposed Law That Would Slam The Door On Undocumented Workers

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This week, Enrique Lopez watched his own city became ground zero in the battle over immigration in the United States. The 39-year-old owns a small grocery store in Atlanta, called Carniceria Durango. As debates over immigration policy raged in his state and in Washington, he saw students protesting in the streets of Atlanta and Hispanics staying home from work to demonstrate their importance to the local economy. Lopez, who grew up in Mexico and was once an illegal immigrant himself, closed his store and gave his employees a paid day off. "It was hard, you lose revenue," he says.

While immigration has proven to be a volatile issue nationally, there may be no place where it's as polarizing as Georgia. On one side is a large and relatively well-off community of immigrants like Lopez. Their success and rising demand for more workers has made Georgia one of the top new destinations for immigrants, particularly Hispanics.

On the other side are state politicians who are just beginning to wrestle with the challenges that California and Texas have been dealing with for years. They, and many of their constituents, worry that the influx of new people will drain the state's resources, for everything from education to unemployment benefits.

ACTING ALONE. The debate is coming to a head now because of a disconnect between Washington and state capitols like Atlanta. As the U.S. Senate is poised to consider a new immigration bill that would allow the nation's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants the opportunity to win citizenship and create a broad temporary worker program, many state politicians are moving the opposite direction.

Fearful of the potential problems from growing illegal immigrant populations, they're taking immigration issues into their own hands. Among the 368 immigration-related bills that are pending in 42 states, Georgia's proposed Security and Immigration Compliance Act is perhaps the toughest and most prohibitive.

"We wanted to take a comprehensive approach," says Republican Georgia Senator and former talk show host Chip Rogers, who initially proposed the legislation. "We were concerned about social benefits, safety issues and employment issues," he said during a short break in the legislative session in Atlanta on Tuesday evening, after the state House of Representatives passed the version of the bill adopted by the state Senate on Monday. "I think we accomplished that by passing the most comprehensive immigration bill of any state."

CONTROVERSIAL BILL. The bill won't become law until it's signed by Governor Sonny Perdue, a step that he is expected to take. Yet it has already divided the state. There were demonstrations on Mar. 24 and the organizers plan more for April. Some state lawmakers are appalled at how punitive the proposed legislation is, for both employers and the illegal immigrants themselves.

"Any time a state tries to compensate for a failure of the federal government, you get into trouble," says Sam Zamarripa, a Democratic Senator from Atlanta, who voted against the bill. "The most dramatic impact of this law is that it is scaring people in the Hispanic community," according to Zamarripa.

The proposed law would require employers to maintain valid employment authorization documents for employees in order to claim a tax deduction for wages, and to verify the legal status of employees through a federal work authorization program if the business held contracts with state or local agencies.

THE "GOOD APPLES." Similarly, state agencies would be required to verify the immigration status of applicants before doling out benefits such as unemployment or Medicaid, although there are exceptions for emergency medical treatment and disaster relief among others. Eliminated was a proposed 5% surcharge on out of country wire transfers for those who could not prove valid citizenship status, but in its place, lawmakers substituted a 6% withholding of wages for contract workers without a valid taxpayer identification or social security number.

Lopez makes the argument that the law may simply be counterproductive. He understands the struggles of illegal immigrants intimately. He grew up in Durango, Mexico and entered the U. S. in 1981. He became an American citizen in 1986 when Congress passed the Reagan administration's Immigration Reform and Control Act. He points out that many illegals don't pay taxes out of fear of drawing attention to their immigration status. "The way to get rid of that is to legalize people," he says. Eventually, others would be able to start businesses and help the local economy by paying taxes and offering jobs.

In his grocery store, which caters to Hispanics, Lopez often hears customers complain about how they are perceived as outcasts by their non-Hispanic neighbors. But he also acknowledges some of the problems undocumented workers bring with them. "We got our good apples, and our bad apples," Lopez says, pointing out that just like other cultures and communities, there are those that commit crimes or do not pay taxes.

A GOVERNOR'S VIEW. Gov. Perdue felt that illegal immigration had become a problem his state, even before the Georgia law was proposed. According to his press secretary, Heather Hedrick, although Gov. Perdue continues to believe that immigration control should remain a federal responsibility, states still must closely guard eligibility for state-sponsored benefits. "People who are ineligible should not receive state benefits," she says.

Gov. Perdue will have 40 days from the end of the legislative session, which finished on Mar. 30, to veto the bill or sign it into law. Sen. Zamarripa has lobbied Gov. Perdue to delay signing the bill in hopes that the federal government will take action superceding the proposed reforms in Georgia.

Such measures would certainly have an impact on Georgia's economy. An estimated 200,000 to 250,000 illegal immigrants live in Georgia, according to a June 2005 Pew Hispanic Center study. Although not as high a percentage as in Texas or California, Georgia is considered one of the new destination states for Hispanics.

FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS. According to a 2005 study at the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, Georgia ranked 10th nationally in terms of Hispanic market size [$10.6 billion], and 3rd by rate of growth [696%] of Hispanic buying power between 1990 and 2005, making Georgia perhaps the most attractive Hispanic market for business in the nation because of exploding ranks and increasing wealth. Only North Carolina and Arkansas have higher growth rates in Hispanic buying power, and neither of those states is considering immigration bills related to state benefits, education, or employment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Indeed, Hispanic advocacy groups say that state laws such as the one pending in Georgia fail to solve the problems with the immigration system and only serve to polarize the issue. "It sends the wrong message and unleashes an environment of division and hate," says Clarissa Martinez, Director of State Policy for the National Council of La Raza, a Latino advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

Sara Gonzalez, President & CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce echoes those thoughts: "This sends and ugly message; it targets Latinos, telling them they are not welcome."

Still, some see a glimmer of hope in the proposed changes in Georgia, since the bill will not become law until signed by Gov. Perdue, and may be preempted by federal legislation. "This has been a wake up call for the Hispanic community," says Gonzalez. After detailing the problems she sees with Georgia's efforts at immigration reform, Martinez says with some element of hope, "we might now see an opening for a civilized debate."






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http://www.atlantalatino.com/detail.php?id=5535
Special: Hispanics say no to SB 529

By Mario Guevara

	See photo gallery
	Sen. Sam Zamarripa (D-Atlanta) and Rep. Pedro Marin (D-Duluth), showed their support of those who met in front of the state Capitol on March 24 for the commercial boycott and labor stike. Protestors expressed their concern for the aprroval of SB 529, introduced by Sen. Chip Rogers (Photos: Mario Guevara/AL)

03/30/2006

Approximately 80,000 people didn't work and didin't buy anything last Friday during the economic boycott summoned by "Alianza 17 de Marzo".

This is an special coverage with photos about what happened in Georgia during, maybe, one of the main protests against SB 529, a bill proposed by Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock).

A lack of necessary permits stopped "Alianza 17 de Marzo" protestors from garnering more participants; nevertheless, students from Georgia State University urged high school students to leave their classrooms and join the march.

Nearly 100 students from Cross Keys High School, where 70 percent of the students are Hispanic, left their classrooms to protest in front of the high school with banners and signs.

At the same time, at least 200 people gathered outside the state Capitol to join the protest. Democratic Sen. Sam Zamarripa, the only Hispanic representative in the House of Representatives who showed his support of the march, met them and advised protestors to march peaceably and pray that the governor opposes the legislation.

According Teodoro Maus, ex general consul of Mexico in Atlanta and member of Alianza 17 de Marzo, "this has really been the best turn out from Latinos that we could have given the state government. It's a great day in history that we are claiming for the dignity of all Latinos. Public transportation services that close to 100,000 immigrants use daily reported a 90 percent decrease from its users."

In the afternoon, "Alianza 17 de Marzo" leaders proclaimed their victory at a local restaurant at the end of the day after boycotting their services all over the state.

Various representatives of the group reiterated that Hispanics have rights like all human beings, that they are heroes for risking their lives to provide better futures for their families, and that they pay taxes and take jobs that Americans don't want.

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http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/0331legmain.html
Legislators beat the clock
Budget approved as Assembly races to put final touches on session

By JIM THARPE, NANCY BADERTSCHER, SONJI JACOBS
Published on: 03/31/06

The Georgia Legislature sprinted toward the finish line of its 2006 session Thursday night, approving a record state budget, tougher penalties on sex offenders and new limits on government seizure of private property.

The General Assembly's 236 members had until the end of Thursday, their 40th day of business, to approve legislation or let it die for the year.

Much of this year's session was colored by election-year politics, as Republican majorities in the House and Senate pushed voter-friendly legislation they hope will help them make a case for re-election this fall. The final day was a scramble to finish that work.

Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue addressed the General Assembly on Thursday evening, making a last-minute push for passage of his proposal on eminent domain. The bill, which cracks down on government's ability to condemn private land for public projects, was approved overwhelmingly.

Perdue praised lawmakers' efforts this session.

"As you return to your communities, I think you'll have good things to say and a solid record of accomplishment," Perdue told the House.

Legislators overwhelmingly approved legislation to keep sex offenders in prison longer and place tough new restrictions on their release. The bill includes a mandatory minimum sentencing of 25 years to life for certain sex crimes with the minimum time served on a life sentence of 30 years.

The two chambers waited until the final hours to pass an $18.6 billion budget for fiscal 2007. The measure, which takes effect July 1, includes much of what Perdue wanted, including 4 percent raises for teachers, nearly $1 billion in construction money for new schools and roads, and $10 million to supply each teacher in the state with a $100 gift card they can use to buy supplies.

In the final hours, GOP leaders added to the budget more than 300 local projects — sometimes called pork barrel spending — worth $6.5 million.

Lawmakers also gave final approval to a bill permitting the prosecution of anyone who causes the death of an unborn child, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. The measure was opposed by abortion rights supporters, who saw it as an attempt to give the unborn the rights of citizens.

There were some high-profile failures as the legislative clock ticked down. The so-called "stream buffer" bill that would have allowed landowners outside metro Atlanta to build closer to drinking water reservoirs and their feeder streams failed on a lopsided vote.

Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) tried to help the floundering bill with amendments that he said could resolve most objections. But the House killed his amendments, which Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said were like putting "perfume on the pig.

"It still smells," Porter said.

A controversial bill that would make it easier for Atlanta Gas Light to build a $300 million pipeline from the coast to Atlanta at their customers' expense appeared dead in the final hours. HB 1325, sponsored by the heaviest hitters in the House, never made it out of the Senate Rules Committee.

Throughout the day the Capitol buzzed with activity as lobbyists, activists and busloads of children on school tours jammed the marble halls.

Rachel Fowler of Decatur and an angry squad of Garden Club members were buttonholing state senators about changes made to House Bill 1097, which they believed would have permited the clear-cutting of trees near billboards.

Fowler hoped to get the tree-cutting provision deleted before lawmakers adjourned. The provision was taken out in the House version of the bill and added back in by the Senate, Fowler said.

Joan Brown, a Garden Club member from Atlanta, said, "It's part of their sneakiness. It's the way they do business. But we think we can stop it."

The last day of the Legislature is renowned for lawmaking shenanigans. Amid a long, chaotic day, language can be inserted or deleted that can totally remake a piece of legislation. There is often big money at stake and the Capitol's hallways crawl with lobbyists nervously monitoring hallway television sets and talking with their clients by cellphone.

By the time the sun set, the Garden Club ladies had apparently won the day — the tree-cutting provision had been axed in a conference committee and the "improved bill" was awaiting final passage.

Even before Thursday, much of the Republicans' agenda for their second year in control of the Legislature had already passed.

Bills cracking down on illegal immigrants and their employers and expanding rights for gun owners had already been approved by both chambers.

Lawmakers had also passed controversial legislation refining a state requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls. It has already been signed into law by Perdue.

And they had already approved Perdue's proposals lowering class sizes in public schools and requiring systems to spend 65 percent of their money on the classroom. Lawmakers also passed a bill that would permit Georgia high schools to offer courses in the history and literature of the Bible.

Not all legislation approved Thursday was heavy-duty stuff. Lawmakers continued the time-tested habit of increasing the number of state symbols by designating the red drum as the official state saltwater fish and the Southern Appalachian brook trout as the official state cold water game fish.

One of the first bills to gain final approval Thursday amends the state's wild animal laws to allow severely disabled Georgians to own "service" monkeys. Supporters of House Bill 695 say the trained monkeys can help disabled people maintain their independence by doing little jobs such as opening cans, fetching drinks and turning out the lights.

The General Assembly's final day is often a time for goodbyes, especially in an election year when some lawmakers have decided to run for higher office or retire.

At least a dozen state representatives are not expected to return, and the House stopped Thursday evening to say fond farewells, several that bridged party lines. The House honored Rep. Terry Coleman (D-Eastman), a 34-year veteran and the last Democratic speaker, who is retiring.

Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) gave up his place at the speaker's rostrum so Coleman could deliver his goodbye from what was his perch in 2003-04. Tears came as Coleman talked of his 34 years in office, his family and Capitol friends. "Thank you, all members of the House past and present for, such a great honor."

AJC staff writers can be reached at: Jim Tharpe, jtharpe@ajc.com; Nancy Badertscher, nbadertscher@ajc.com; and Sonji Jacobs, sjacobs@ajc.com.

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http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=909&NewsID=707579&CategoryID=13280&on=0

Perdue won't say whether he will sign immigration bill

03/30/06 ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Sonny Perdue isn't saying yet whether he will sign a sweeping immigration bill, which received final passage in the Georgia Legislature this week. But the Republican governor said Wednesday he did not think the bill was ''anti-immigrant.'' Perdue said Wednesday that Georgia needs to strike a balance between being a welcoming state for newcomers ''whether they come from Alabama or Michigan or Mexico'' while also ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used for people in the state legally. Perdue said he thinks ''it's only right'' to expect that the state's social services are dedicated to people eligible to receive them. ''And that's one of the things the bill does,'' Perdue said. Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said the governor's legal team would be studying the bill and he would decide in the coming days whether to sign it. The immigration bill was a top priority for Republican leaders in the Legislature this session. And while Perdue has not publicly staked but a position on the bill it is widely expected that he will sign it. The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act would verify that adults seeking many state-administered benefits are in the country legally. It would also sanction employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and mandate that companies with state contracts check the immigration status of their employees. The bill is believed to be the first comprehensive immigration bill to make it through a statehouse this session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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--
Erik Voss
erik@ICAtlanta.org
404-457-5901 Direct

Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 3/30/'06

3/30/'06 - The following article(s) were found in the media.  Several stories are provided ... with links to the original sources ... for your convenience:

• Ga. Congress members push immigration reform (AP - Macon Telegraph)
• Peace vigil remembers border crossers killed (Red and Black - UGA)
  
• READERS WRITE (AJC)
• Police Wary of Immigration Crackdown (WXIA)
• Immigration comes knocking at statehouses across country (AP / Athens Online)
• Anti-immigration Law May Be Moot (WXIA)
  
• Perdue declines to say whether he will sign immigration bill (Macon Telegraph, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Access North Georgia)

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http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/14218338.htm
Ga. Congress members push immigration reform

By Daniel Yee
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA - Reforming U.S. immigration policies will provide better border security and ensure a pool of workers for jobs that many Americans no longer wish to do, members of Georgia's congressional delegation said.

"The people of Georgia want our borders secured. I think those who depend on labor want a system where they can get labor without violating the law," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia.

U.S. immigration reform has been a highly charged issue, with hundreds of thousands of people - particularly Hispanics - turning out in protest at recent rallies in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved a package of immigration and border security measures for the full Senate to consider.

"This issue is the most emotional, most sensitive, most politically charged issue I've seen during my 12 years in Congress," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia.

Chambliss has criticized the Senate committee's decision to approve legislation that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship, something immigrant rights supporters - including restaurant owners, agricultural groups, Democrats and others - hailed as a major victory for their cause.

"I'm just opposed to amnesty. I think it's wrong. We've got laws in place to allow folks who want to become citizens of the United States," Chambliss said. "Those folks who participate in the program won't stay in agriculture. They'll be gone. They'll seek a better job that's not as difficult, maybe pays better. The chances are good they'll be displacing an American worker."

Isakson said no reform will work without the border being sealed first. He said a federal law in 1986 gave amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants "without addressing the problem." Now there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, he said.

Chambliss pledged to introduce an amendment on the Senate floor that would modernize the temporary worker program that many Georgia farmers abide by. His plan would allow farmers to hire immigrants as temporary workers in currently excluded categories such as dairy farms or as meat, poultry and seafood processors and packers.

But illegal immigrants in the program would have to return to their home country at some point in the next two years. The time lag was created so farmers would not immediately suffer from a drain of workers.

"I'm mainly trying to have a system that is workable that will create a good pool of workers from which our farmers can choose," Chambliss said.

Any legislation the Senate approves would have to be reconciled with the House, which passed its own immigration legislation last fall. The House immigration reform bill mainly focused on border security, said Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta.

"We wanted to clearly send a message to the American people and to the Senate that we thought that was the most important thing, to stop the hemorrhaging first. As many as 400,000 (illegal immigrants) are coming here every year," Gingrey said.

Congress needs to make sure immigration legislation is comprehensive and fair to all, said Rep. John Lewis, D-Atlanta, who likens the struggles of today's immigrants to the civil rights struggles of blacks in the 1960s. "You have an element in our society, and it's here in Georgia ... where we have to have someone to blame for all of our problems. It's the immigrants today, tomorrow it will be somebody else," Lewis said. "I don't know what the state of Georgia would do, what many of these states would do all over the country, if we packed (immigrants) up and sent them back. What would it do to our economy?"

The federal debate comes at a time when the Georgia legislature is grappling with immigration issues. As many as 80,000 Hispanic workers in Georgia participated in a work stoppage Friday to protest an immigration bill debated last week in the Georgia House. Tuesday, the Georgia House gave final approval to a sweeping bill that would deny some state services to adults living in the U.S. illegally, sending what would be some of the nation's toughest immigration rules to the governor.

Ultimately, however, immigration reform must take place on Capitol Hill, Isakson said.

"The state legislature is reacting to a problem that is not of their making; it's a federal problem. The ball was dropped in Washington, not Atlanta," Isakson said. "Where we have fallen down as a nation is we have a cumbersome immigration problem and less-than-good security on the border. It's the worst of both worlds."

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http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/30/442b675f9fbac
Peace vigil remembers border crossers killed

By DESHAUN HARRIS
Published , March 30, 2006, 06:00:01 AM EDT

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund will sponsor a peace vigil tonight in remembrance of immigrants who died crossing the U.S. border at the University Catholic Center.

The vigil follows more than a week of protests against state and federal immigration legislation.

Across from the state capitol Monday night, more than 150 Latino students from around the state sang songs, lit candles and prayed for Gov. Sonny Perdue to veto State Senate Bill 529.

PEACE VIGIL Where: Catholic Center, 1344 S. Lumpkin St. When: 7 p.m. tonight Why: To remember immigrants who died or were injured crossing the U.S. border.

If signed by Perdue, the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act will require stricter documentation of employees' citizenship status and make human trafficking a felony.

The final version of the bill was adopted by the state Senate on Monday and by the state House on Tuesday.

The day before, the Latino Intercollegiate Consortium, an organization of students from several state colleges and universities, organized the candlelight vigil.

The vigil started at 9 p.m., but 30 minutes later there was only standing room left in Central Presbyterian Church.

Members of the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) and Students for Latino Empowerment carpooled to the event.

Melina Baetti, president of HSA, could not attend the vigil in Atlanta, but spent Monday exercising her democratic right to contact elected officials.

"I've been sending green postcards to Gov. Perdue's office between classes all day," Baetti said. "We came up with the idea for the cards at the consortium and other people are sending them out too."

The postcards ask Perdue to veto SB 529 and includes the name and college affiliation of the sender.

Vigil participants shared their views on the bill inside the church before moving outside to march.

A community member began to cry as he spoke in Spanish about his love for the United States despite the injustice he feels the government is perpetuating towards the immigrant population.

A student from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College shared the pain she feels when she sees immigrants "working like slaves" in South Georgia fields.

"I feel frustrated because I can't believe that our representatives are taking these drastic measures without thinking how this bill will affect the lives not only of undocumented immigrants, but of every single person living in the state of Georgia," said Claudia Caycho, a freshman from Norcross and vigil participant.

Caycho, and others in the Hispanic community, do not feel SB 529 will stop illegal immigration.

While participants were encouraged to be honest when sharing their views, they were also instructed "nunca se indentifique como indocumentando," or "never identify yourself as undocumented."

As the students marched they sang "We Shall Overcome," "God Bless America" and "America, the Beautiful."

Tonight's vigil at begins at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Center.

After the vigil, participants will silently march up Lumpkin Street towards the Five Points area if weather conditions are favorable.

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http://www.ajc.com/thursday/content/epaper/editions/thursday/opinion_44b2b7ab41a940d4007e.html
READERS WRITE
John Dillahunt, Alice Lassiter, Julie Fredrick, Joseph D. Young, Dan F. Huth, John F. Moore, Peter S. Morgan Jr., Gary Moss - For the Journal-Constitution

Thursday, March 30, 2006

...

Immigration

Responses to "Governor gets illegals bill," Page One, March 29

Action amounts to pandering

What a gutless paper tiger of a so-called illegal immigration control bill our state legislators have passed ("Governor gets illegals bill," Page One, March 29).

They are more interested in pandering to lobbyists and some business owners than in representing the people who elected them. It's hard to imagine that they are proud of a bill whose key provisions don't even begin to take effect for a year, such as checking the legal status of immigrants applying for taxpayer-funded benefits.

With laws like this, illegals (and I'm talking about only illegals) can look forward to a long and happy life in the United States. I will never pass up a chance to vote out of office anyone who supported this pathetic bill.

JOHN DILLAHUNT, Peachtree City

Perdue will pay if he doesn't sign

If Gov. Sonny Perdue doesn't sign this law, shame on him. I can assure him that he will not be re-elected --- 70,000 registered Hispanic voters are not going to tell the rest of the registered Georgia voters what they can and cannot do in this state.

Illegal immigrants have no rights in Georgia or any other state, and to give them rights is wrong.

ALICE LASSITER, Atlanta

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http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=77992

Police Wary of Immigration Crackdown Web Editor: Michael King Reported By: Jon Shirek Last Modified: 3/29/2006 11:35:23 PM Police chiefs across Georgia are taking a hard look at the crackdown on illegal immigrants that the Georgia General Assembly passed Tuesday. Under one feature of the bill, some local police officers in Georgia would be able to assume extra powers -- as federal immigration agents. Among police chiefs, the idea is as controversial as the overall bill. The proposal calls on local police officers to become certified, through training paid for by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to do the work of federal immigration and customs agents, as part of the officers' local policing. "They're not going to try to deport anyone," according to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Chip Rogers, (R-Woodstock), "unless that person is wanted on a felony charge, has committed a felony elsewhere, or who has a deportation order against them. "We're really just giving our law enforcement another tool to deal with this issue." Specifically, in the language of the bill itself, SB 529, "A peace officer certified as trained in accordance with the memorandum of understanding as provided in this Code section is authorized to enforce federal immigration and customs laws while performing within the scope of his or her authorized duties." Some police departments across the country, such as the San Diego Police Department, specifically prohibit their officers from doing the work of federal immigration and customs agents. "Our officers are not federal agents," a detective with the San Diego police told 11Alive News by phone on Wednesday. "People know we're not going to check their citizenship to save a life" or to stop local crimes, he said. As a result, he said, people come forward with tips to help the officers fight local crime. One of the legislators opposed to the Georgia bill, Rep. Pedro Marin, (D-Gwinnett Co.), told 11Alive News, "We [members of Latino communities] have fought tenaciously throughout the years… to help local law enforcement work with Latinos, and we have developed a lot of initiatives and [made] a lot of progress, because Latinos, you know, they have the fear of the police." Marin believes that if Gov. Sonny Perdue signs the bill into law, that work will suffer a setback, and Latinos will fear police even more, "knowing that the police officer can be an INS [federal immigration and customs] agent." In the City of Chamblee, just north of Atlanta -— Chamblee is majority Hispanic -- Police Chief R. Marc Johnson clearly remembers what happened beginning in 1992, when his officers, along with federal agents, tried for 18 months to clear Chamblee's streets of illegal immigrants. They used mass round ups and sweeps wherever they could find large numbers of Hispanics, and wherever they thought illegal immigrants might be hiding. But, the chief said on Wednesday, instead of jailing large numbers of illegal immigrants, and instead of convincing them to stay out of Chamblee, he ended up learning what he calls a tough lesson. "There's nothing the city of Chamblee or Chamblee Police could do that's going to affect immigration of a city," Johnson said. "All we were going to do was alienate the population that we had here." Johnson told 11Alive News that many Hispanic residents of Chamblee still believe, incorrectly, that his officers are doubling as federal agents, looking to deport illegal immigrants. And that, Johnson said, makes it more difficult to fight local crime and protect the innocent. "I mean, they're just, they're not going to talk. They're scared of us," Rogers said. "It makes it very difficult because the only, real source of information that we have for that community is the people living in the community. And if they don't trust us, or if they're scared of us, they're not going to call and report when they're a victim, and, even more importantly, they're not going to call when they have information that might help solve a crime or clear a crime." Nevertheless, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Rogers, insists local police should be enforcing federal immigration laws, as well local laws. "If the perception is that in America we're going to enforce the law," said Rogers on Wednesday, "I think that's a good perception. I have no problem with there being an expectation that the law will, in fact, be enforced, so if that is the perception [among Hispanics], I'm not necessarily opposed to that." Rogers pointed out that the federal government has offered the immigration and customs training to local police departments for about ten years, and that the Bush Administration recently provided federal funding for the training. "The states of Alabama and Florida have done this very successfully," Rogers said. Rogers expects that the Georgia State Patrol would be one of the first law enforcement agencies to take advantage of the training, to enhance the troopers' work along the U.S. interstate highways in Georgia. Gov. Perdue has until mid May to sign the bill or veto it. If he signs it, the provisions of the new law would begin to take effect in 2007.

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http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/033006/news_20060330052.shtml
Immigration comes knocking at statehouses across country

By Robert Tanner   |   Associated Press   |   Story updated at 9:45 PM on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

The national push and pull on immigrants' rights is reflected in statehouses from the deep South to northern New England.

An avalanche of proposals are under consideration that would cut services to undocumented workers - from education to health care - but some of the most significant recent steps actually help illegal immigrants.

So far this year, only one major proposal has passed: Georgia's legislature last week approved what supporters claim would be the nation's toughest anti-immigrant law, limiting state benefits such as non-emergency medical care and unemployment checks to those in the country legally.

But recent actions, by law, executive order or court decision, have extended benefits to illegal immigrants in Illinois, New York and Washington state. Even when Arizona voters passed sweeping restrictions on illegal immigrants in 2004, state leaders interpreted the law to scale back the impact.

"People talked tough but they did some inclusionary things," said Michael Fix of the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. "It seems to me the toxicity is more in the debate than the outcome. But who knows what the future's going to bring."

As Congress struggles with how to craft an effective immigration policy, states are in the midst of their own version of the debate. Some of the tougher ideas this year:

New Hampshire would fine businesses up to $2,500 if they hire workers not authorized to be in the country.

Arizona would build a wall and spend $50 million on a radar system to track anyone who crosses over from Mexico.

Georgia would have local police to check the immigration status of everybody they arrest.

Over the past year, other policies have emerged that broaden illegal immigrants' benefits, Fix said. Washington state and Illinois have expanded health care available to poor families, regardless of immigration status. Court decisions in New York extended cash assistance for all the poor.

In all, state legislators this year have introduced 368 bills in 42 states tackling immigrant issues, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The majority have sought to make daily life harder for illegal immigrants by limiting access to government-provided services, though some aimed at stopping exploitation.

"There's a sense we've lost control of the borders," said Ann Morse, who tracks immigrant legislation at the NCSL. "States are caught in the crossfire between Congress and the public, showing ways they can respond to the problem."

In Nebraska, state Sen. Ray Aguilar sponsored a measure to extend in-state tuition rates to children of illegal immigrants who live in Nebraska, and says he has the support to get it passed. Next year, he hopes to pass a law that would let undocumented workers get a driver's certificate - not a license - so they can drive to work.

"We try to figure out how to assimilate the people, and when you do that you deal with a lot of the problems," said Aguilar, a Republican and the grandson of Mexican immigrants who, he believes, moved here legally.

He is on an interstate committee of legislators studying immigration issues. Earlier this month they visited Nogales, Ariz., to see the challenges on the border first hand.

In Arizona, state Rep. Russell Pearce has been a vocal and insistent proponent of laws and rules that would stem the flow of illegal immigrants, pushing for a wall, a radar system and money so that local law enforcement could jail the immigrants they catch.

"Enough is enough is enough," said Pearce, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "How can you come to this country and expect to have a right to free stuff? It's just like breaking into my house."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 033006

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http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=77997

Anti-immigration Law May Be Moot

Reported By: Keith Whitney

Web Editor: Michael King

Last Modified: 3/29/2006 11:26:22 PM

There are concerns that all the debate surrounding the anti-immigration laws, both in Georgia and nationally, may be a moot point.

That's because there are federal laws on the books that would make some of the measures impossible to enforce.

Under state Senate bill 529, employers who hire undocumented workers could face stiff penalties. But there's a catch-22 -- under existing federal law, it is illegal to ask for any documentation.

"The problem is we were supposed to be eliminating illegal workers, but now, we can't aske them for documents that would show they're allowed to work here," said attorney David Whitlock of the Fisher and Phillips law firm.

Whitlock is an attorney for a firm that deals with labor and employment issues. He says many Americans may be surprised to learn that illegal immigrants are helping to pay for Social Security through deductions they cannot collect.

"$335 billion -- that's a third of a trillion dollars that is possibly largely responsible for keeping our Social Security program floating, somewhat," Whitlock said.

Whitlock says he believes it will be nearly impossible to deport the millions of illegal workers. That's why he says he's in favor of a compromise system where the workers, in essence, pay to play -- earning the right to work in the United States.

"They pay a penalty a fine, if you will. $2,000 - $3,000, for breaking our laws. Now register them, and legalize them, in effect, and collect the tax revenue for them. Now, we have a win-win," said Whitlock.

Whitlock says the economic fallout won't just affect America. Mexico gets $22 billion a year from workers sending money home there.

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http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=73333
Perdue declines to say whether he will sign immigration bill

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

Gov. Sonny Perdue isn't saying yet whether he will sign a sweeping immigration bill, which received final passage in the Georgia Legislature this week.

But the Republican governor said Wednesday he did not think the bill was "anti-immigrant."

Perdue said Wednesday that Georgia needs to strike a balance between being a welcoming state for newcomers "whether they come from Alabama or Michigan or Mexico" while also ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used for people in the state legally.

Perdue said he thinks "it's only right" to expect that the state's social services are dedicated to people eligible to receive them.

"And that's one of the things the bill does," Perdue said.

Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said the governor's legal team would be studying the bill and he would decide in the coming days whether to sign it.

The immigration bill was a top priority for Republican leaders in the Legislature this session. And while Perdue has not publicly staked out a position on the bill it is widely expected that he will sign it.

The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act would verify that adults seeking many state-administered benefits are in the country legally. It would also sanction employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and mandate that companies with state contracts check the immigration status of their employees.

The bill is believed to be the first comprehensive immigration bill to make it through a statehouse this session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

------------------------------------------------

--
Erik Voss
erik@ICAtlanta.org
404-457-5901 Direct

"Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 3/29/'06  4:40 PM

3/29/'06 - The following article(s) were found in the media.  Several stories are provided ... with links to the original sources ... for your convenience:

• Bush Flies To Mexico; Guest Workers On Agenda (WSBTV)
  
• Congressional Debate Gives Faces to Illegal Immigrants (FOX News)
  
• Chambliss to introduce poultry-friendly amendment (AP - Access North Georgia)
  
• Power in numbers (Creative Loafing Atlanta)
  
• The immigration inferno (Walton Tribune)
  
• Cross purposes of immigration reform (Macon Telegraph)
  
• House approves immigration bill (Morris New Service - Augusta Chronicle)
  
• Shipp: Taxpayers betrayed by all politicians on immigration issue (Online Athens)
  
• Hispanics Unite Against Changes (WXIA)
  
• One-Man Immigration Crime Fighter (WXIA)

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http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/8339809/detail.html
Bush Flies To Mexico; Guest Workers On Agenda

POSTED: 1:04 pm EST March 29, 2006

UPDATED: 4:17 pm EST March 29, 2006

WASHINGTON -- As President George W. Bush heads to Mexico for talks with his counterpart Vicente Fox, senators in the United States have begun arguing the pros and cons of various immigration proposals.

As they do, each is relating their constituents' concerns while also learning more about who immigrants are.

Sen. Lindsey Graham hears about illegal immigration whenever he travels his home state of South Carolina. And for good reason.

South Carolina, a state with historically few illegal immigrants, saw a 1,000 percent increase in their numbers from 1990 to 2004.

"Are we going to run this work force off?" asks the Republican lawmaker, quoting constituents. "And what are you going to do about broken borders?"

With 55,000 undocumented residents, South Carolina ranks far behind the nation's leader, California. But the issue is boiling throughout the country as illegal immigrants make their way to more cities and states than ever.

The Senate is debating legislation this week that would tighten border security while enabling illegal immigrants to eventually become citizens.

The Pew Hispanic Center, a research organization in Washington, estimates there are as many as 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, though researchers acknowledge they are difficult to count. Other organizations have put the number at 11 million, but all agree the total is rising quickly.

Illegal immigrants are more likely than American citizens to hold jobs but less likely to have high school diplomas. They tend to be younger, and many have children who were born in the U.S., making the kids citizens.

Less than half fit the profile of young men sneaking across the border to find jobs and send money back home to their families. Today, most bring their families with them, according to an analysis by the Pew center.

"There's about 6.5 million adults who are in families, either couples or couples with children, and there's another 2 million children," said Jeffrey Passel, a senior research associate at the center. "The vast majority of this population is families."

In 1990, almost half lived in California, the Pew analysis said. By 2004, California's share had dropped to about a quarter, even though the state's illegal population had grown from 1.48 million to about 2.45 million.

They are moving to states like North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio and Georgia as they seek jobs and establish communities. North Carolina has nearly 16 times the number of illegal immigrants it had in 1990, the Pew analysis said. The state had 390,000 in 2004, the most recent state numbers available.

About a quarter of them arrive in the United States legally and simply overstay their visas, Passel said.

"We have about 30 million people per year come here on temporary visas, either tourists or visitors for business," he said. "With 30 million folks coming here a year, a very small percent who stay adds up over the years."

Members of the Georgia congressional delegation said that reforming immigration policies would provide better border security and ensure a pool of workers for jobs that many no longer wish to do.

"The people of Georgia want our borders secured. I think those who depend on labor want a system where they can get labor without violating the law," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

"This issue is the most emotional, most sensitive, most politically charged issue I've seen during my 12 years in Congress," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

Adult men make up the largest share of illegal immigrants, followed by adult women and then children.

Many families include relatives of differing immigration status. Nearly two-thirds of the children were born in the United States.

Illegal workers make up about 5 percent of the U.S. labor force. More than nine in 10 males illegally here are in that labor force, compared with 83 percent of men born in the United States.

Illegal immigrants tend to be younger than American workers, which helps explain why they are more likely to hold jobs, researchers said.

Female illegal immigrants, however, were less likely to work than their American counterparts, perhaps because most have young children, the Pew analysis said.

Illegal immigrants are concentrated in construction, agriculture and cleaning jobs. They make up 36 percent of all insulation workers, 29 percent of agricultural workers and 29 percent of roofers.

The Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates restricting immigration, recently issued a report saying that immigrants compete for jobs with less-educated Americans, especially high-school dropouts.

About half of adult illegal immigrants have not graduated high school, the Pew analysis found.

About a third have less than a ninth-grade education.

About a quarter of illegal immigrants have at least some college education, with 15 percent holding at least a bachelor's degree.



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http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,189517,00.html

Congressional Debate Gives Faces to Illegal Immigrants

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham hears about illegal immigration whenever he travels his home state of South Carolina. And for good reason.

South Carolina, a state with historically few illegal immigrants, saw a 1,000 percent increase in their numbers from 1990 to 2004.

"Are we going to run this work force off?" asks the Republican lawmaker, quoting constituents. "And what are you going to do about broken borders?"

With 55,000 undocumented residents, South Carolina ranks far behind the nation's leader, California. But the issue is boiling throughout the country as illegal immigrants make their way to more cities and states than ever.

The Senate is debating legislation this week that would tighten border security while enabling illegal immigrants to eventually become citizens.

The Pew Hispanic Center, a research organization in Washington, estimates there are as many as 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, though researchers acknowledge they are difficult to count. Other organizations have put the number at 11 million, but all agree the total is rising quickly.

Illegal immigrants are more likely than American citizens to hold jobs but less likely to have high school diplomas. They tend to be younger, and many have children who were born in the U.S., making the kids citizens.

Less than half fit the profile of young men sneaking across the border to find jobs and send money back home to their families. Today, most bring their families with them, according to an analysis by the Pew center.

"There's about 6.5 million adults who are in families, either couples or couples with children, and there's another 2 million children," said Jeffrey Passel, a senior research associate at the center. "The vast majority of this population is families."

In 1990, almost half lived in California, the Pew analysis said. By 2004, California's share had dropped to about a quarter, even though the state's illegal population had grown from 1.48 million to about 2.45 million.

They are moving to states like North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio and Georgia as they seek jobs and establish communities. North Carolina has nearly 16 times the number of illegal immigrants it had in 1990, the Pew analysis said. The state had 390,000 in 2004, the most recent state numbers available.

About a quarter of them arrive in the United States legally and simply overstay their visas, Passel said.

"We have about 30 million people per year come here on temporary visas, either tourists or visitors for business," he said. "With 30 million folks coming here a year, a very small percent who stay adds up over the years."

Members of the Georgia congressional delegation said that reforming immigration policies would provide better border security and ensure a pool of workers for jobs that many no longer wish to do.

"The people of Georgia want our borders secured. I think those who depend on labor want a system where they can get labor without violating the law," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

"This issue is the most emotional, most sensitive, most politically charged issue I've seen during my 12 years in Congress," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

Adult men make up the largest share of illegal immigrants, followed by adult women and then children.

Many families include relatives of differing immigration status. Nearly two-thirds of the children were born in the United States.

Illegal workers make up about 5 percent of the U.S. labor force. More than nine in 10 males illegally here are in that labor force, compared with 83 percent of men born in the United States.

Illegal immigrants tend to be younger than American workers, which helps explain why they are more likely to hold jobs, researchers said.

Female illegal immigrants, however, were less likely to work than their American counterparts, perhaps because most have young children, the Pew analysis said.

Illegal immigrants are concentrated in construction, agriculture and cleaning jobs. They make up 36 percent of all insulation workers, 29 percent of agricultural workers and 29 percent of roofers.

The Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates restricting immigration, recently issued a report saying that immigrants compete for jobs with less-educated Americans, especially high-school dropouts.

About half of adult illegal immigrants have not graduated high school, the Pew analysis found. About a third have less than a ninth-grade education.

About a quarter of illegal immigrants have at least some college, with 15 percent holding at least a bachelor's degree.

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http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?ID=102425

Posted Wednesday, March 29 at 11:19 AM
Chambliss to introduce poultry-friendly amendment
by The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss pledges to introduce an amendment to federal immigration legislation that would benefit the poultry industry.

His plan would allow farmers to hire immigrants as temporary workers in currently excluded categories such as dairy farms or as meat, poultry and seafood processors and packers.

But illegal immigrants in the program would have to return to their home country at some point in the next two years. The time lag was created so farmers would not immediately suffer from a drain of workers.

``I'm mainly trying to have a system that is workable that will create a good pool of workers from which our farmers can choose,'' Chambliss said.





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http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A54796
Power in numbers
A statewide Hispanic boycott crippled Georgia's economy for a day. What's next?

BY ALYSSA ABKOWITZ

Published 03.29.06

Alejandro Leal

HISPANIC POWER: More than 150 students gathered at the Capitol to protest immigration reform during a statewide boycott March 24.

pictures: 1 | 2

Josefa Esquea told customers she wouldn't be open Friday. The Dominican Republic immigrant -- who came to New York City in the 1980s and then relocated to Atlanta -- planned on participating in the strike she heard about on a Hispanic radio station. She knew she'd lose business by closing her popular MiPilon restaurant in Duluth, but she wanted to send the Georgia General Assembly a message: The state's economy needs us.

"We're here to invest money and contribute to society," Esquea says. "We work hard and do our jobs and want to be appreciated. We're tired of living in the shadows."

On March 24, more than 80,000 Hispanics didn't buy anything and didn't go to work at construction sites, poultry plants and fast-food restaurants in opposition to Senate Bill 529, a comprehensive proposal that would prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving tax-funded services, and fine employers who hire undocumented workers. On Monday, the state Senate approved the bill. The only way for it to be halted now is if Gov. Sonny Perdue does not sign it into law.

The boycott, which was started by an anonymous flier circulating throughout metro Atlanta, crippled workplaces across the state, says Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.

"Several McDonalds and a couple landscaping companies had to close today," Gonzalez says. "This hurts Georgia's economy and hopefully will send a message to the governor not to sign this bill."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the buying power of Hispanics in Georgia totals approximately $11 billion -- about 5 percent of Georgia's entire economy. And a study conducted by the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute shows that illegal immigrants each pay between $2,340 and $2,470 in state and local taxes annually.

"There was an economic impact felt as a result of the boycott," says Tisha Tallman, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. "The community's actions made the issue more palatable, more real to individuals who haven't accepted the Latinos' contribution numbers."

The "Day of Dignity," as its organizers called it, was one of several protests that has generated nationwide attention. Last week, about 30,000 protesters marched in downtown Milwaukee as part of "A Day Without Latinos" to oppose federal legislation that would make undocumented immigrants felons. In Los Angeles, more than a half-million demonstrators marched in support of immigrants' rights, and 300,000 people rallied in Chicago in early March.

The debate weaving through federal and state levels has pitted party members against each other. President Bush has backed a Senate Judiciary Committee's proposal for a comprehensive guest worker program, while other Republicans are calling for a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., backed away from his party's immigration stance this week by proposing to grant illegal immigrants already here legal status if they help Georgia's farmers bring in a harvest.

On March 17, the day the anonymous flier was distributed, a handful of Hispanic religious leaders, media executives and immigrant advocates met at a restaurant in Smyrna to discuss ways to oppose Georgia's immigration proposals. Naming themselves the March 17 Alliance, the group called for the creation of "unity in favor of defending the immigrant community's human rights."

"We wanted to show the government that the Latino population is very important to the state," says the Rev. Julian Herrera, a spokesman for the Alliance. "We wanted politicians to understand what we do for the economy."

In the early morning hours of March 24, Rolando Santiago, an Alliance organizer, passed by several of Atlanta's Latino-populated communities on Buford Highway. Bus stops were abandoned and construction sites remained empty. More than 100 Hispanic-owned businesses shut down, Santiago says, and several contractors called in to Neal Boortz's popular radio show on WSB-AM (750) to vent about the lack of employees working.

"We contribute much more to society than we're given credit for," Santiago says. "We're not going to stand by and do nothing and act like we don't exist."

In addition to boycotting work, many Hispanic parents kept their children home from school. Hall County Schools spokesman Gordon Higgins says the absentee rate among Hispanic students on March 24 totaled 41 percent. Gwinnett County Schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach says Gwinnett also saw a significant decrease in Latino attendance.

What's more, about 200 students and workers congregated on the steps of the Georgia Capitol to protest immigration reform. They carried signs that read "Don't panic, we're only Hispanic" and "We also have a dream," while shouting "Justice now" and "The people united will never be defeated."

In the early afternoon, state Sen. Sam Zamarripa, D-Atlanta, and Rep. Pedro Marin, D-Duluth, arrived to answer questions and quell fears about SB 529.

"You must not panic," Zamarripa told the crowd. "There are elements to this bill that could change. Don't believe the lies and rumors that are spreading. It's not over yet. We'll keep fighting."

Zamarripa and Marin asked the Latino community to express their concerns and fears in prayer.

Lizabeth Gomez, a Georgia State student, read a letter to the crowd that urged Latinos to call Gov. Sonny Perdue's office and tell him not to sign SB 529. She likened the Hispanics' battle to that of African-Americans'.

"[The government] wants us to contribute to society," Gomez says, "but they're not willing to contribute to our community. We'll fight like the African-Americans did in the 1960s."

The success of March 24 showed the power of the immigrant community -- a notion that will lead to more action, Tallman says. Already, on Sunday, two days after the boycott, the Latin American Association offered a community seminar at Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway to educate the Latino community about SB 529.

Josh Hopkins, director of resource development for the association, says a large amount of misinformation is spreading throughout the Hispanic community and creating a culture of fear.

"We want to make sure everybody has correct answers about the legislation," Hopkins says. "Our role is to try to communicate to the community, listen to their concerns and stop rumors from spreading."

Herrera, the Alliance spokesman, says his group is planning a march in Atlanta in conjunction with the National Day of Action, April 10. The Alliance is also trying to organize a national boycott several days after the National Day of Action.

Tallman says it won't be the last time the community raises its voice.

"I don't think this is going to be the last of our community coming forward and taking the active part in what will impact their future," Tallman says. "This is just the beginning."

Alejandro Leal contributed reporting for this article.

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http://www.waltontribune.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d105aa6bbb10308b
The immigration inferno

By Robbie Schwartz The Walton Tribune

Published March 29, 2006

Nationwide, the fuse has been lit and the fire is slowly starting to burn as lawmakers try to rein in illegal immigrants and garner control of the spiraling number of immigrants who are illegally in this country.

On Friday, a call for action was placed by Hispanic leaders asking immigrants who could afford to stay home to do so as well as boycotting any purchases on the day.

Early that morning, a local contractor called me and told me about what he had seen locally – and the hit that he took as a result of the action.

"Ninety percent of our construction work has been brought to a standstill," the local business owner said. "My landscaper had 60 employees lay out today. My framer had 18 crews not show up. We are talking about 150 employees right there, and I haven't even been out to the development site yet to see who else did not show up."

If you don't think legislation about the fate of illegal immigrants doesn't impact you, you couldn't be more wrong.

Protesting the sweeping anti-illegal immigration measure gave just a taste of what would happen if such a measure would pass.

The bill that locally was being protested is Senate Bill 529, or the Georgia Security/Immigration Compliance Act, which includes prohibiting adult illegal immigrants from getting many public benefits, financially penalizing private employers who hire workers in the state unlawfully and establishing harsher penalties for human trafficking.

All seems well and dandy on top of the water, but under the surface elected leaders are treading water as fast as they can.

This has been an issue that I have wrestled with personally in defining my own stance on the issue, dating back to the 2000 elections when Pat Buchanan ran where one of the planks of his platform was to build a huge fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

That was only the second presidential election that I was able to vote in, and the idea grabbed my attention — for a while.

Why should my taxes go toward paying for services for people who have entered into this country illegally? Why is the government not doing more to kick these people out of the country?

But then I remember the principles that this country were founded on.

This country was founded by immigrants (although that argument can be said about any country) who were escaping to what they hoped would be a better life. And that is what these immigrants are doing.

They are looking for a better life, and where else could that be the case than right here in America.

They do the jobs that others shun. They cling to their rich culture and look for a better life for their children.

The problem is not with the immigrants that are here but rather what to do to stem the tide of ones that keep coming.

Some sort of workers program is needed. A fence is probably needed as well. More effective border patrolling is definitely warranted (why not bring some of our soldiers home from across the globe to do this?).

In general, something more needs to be done.

Illegal immigrants have become an integral part of this society. A balance needs to be used in weighing efforts to stem the tide against the role of those that are already here.




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http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/opinion/14207811.htm
Cross purposes of immigration reform

"We are making the best of a difficult situation."

- Sen. Arlen Specter, R- Penn.
The difficult situation Sen. Specter was referring to is the haggling over immigration reform on the national stage. The Judiciary Committee Specter chairs passed an immigration bill 12-6. Now it may go to the full Senate as early as next week. The hang up? The bill is very different from the House version.

Lawmakers are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On the devil's side are public opinion polls, important information in an election year. In 2002, the Center for Immigration Studies found that "60 percent of the public regards the present level of immigration to be a 'critical threat to the vital interests of the United States...'" In a Dec. 2005 Gallup poll, 65 percent of respondents, disapproved of President George W. Bush's handling of illegal immigration. The president's proposal includes a guest worker program.

On the deep blue sea side, lawmakers were faced with demonstrations in major cities across the country. In Los Angeles the crowd was estimated at 500,000. There were also advocates for various industries lobbying for the committee's more relaxed version of immigration reform sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

The Senate bill, unlike the House version, would not make being here illegally a criminal offense. It also struck the House provision that criminalized giving humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants. "Temporary workers" would have to wait six years before applying for their green cards, but they would not have to return home before applying for temporary worker status.

Georgia's state Senate, not saddled with national concerns, passed the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, 39-16. The act caters more to public sentiment than practical application. In a 2001 Georgia voters poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, 78.6 percent of respondents were either extremely or somewhat concerned about the level of immigration in the state. While SB 529 is being touted as a tough immigration measure, the provisions that apply to private employers, won't take affect until 2008.

Nationally, Republicans and Democrats are trying to curry long-term favor with the fastest growing minority group in the nation. But with fall elections looming, state and federal House lawmakers are more concerned with short-term pandering than actual reform.

No matter what law is eventually passed, the need for immigrant labor will not disappear. Americans are hooked on the low prices for goods and services made possible by immigrant labor - legal and illegal.

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http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/032906/met_6911177.shtml

House approves immigration bill

Workers without legal status would be denied benefits

By Vicky Eckenrode | Morris News Service

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

ATLANTA - A bill that would overhaul the state's approach to illegal immigrants is headed to the governor's office.

The House on Tuesday gave final legislative approval to the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, voting 119-49. The Senate voted the day before to approve the final version of the legislation, which had to be worked out by a House-Senate conference committee.

Senate Bill 529 attempts to crack down on illegal immigration by requiring the legal status to be checked for anyone who works on a government-funded project. It also holds business owners responsible by taking away their ability to deduct payroll taxes unless they receive proper documents for workers, and it denies some public benefits for illegal immigrants unless they can prove they are legally living in the state.

Democrats in the House tried to repeat arguments that immigration policy is currently being debated in Congress and should remain a federal issue.

Meanwhile, State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Tuesday that the legislation would unintentionally grant a pass to undocumented workers already hired on local and state government projects because the verification process would not start until next year.

"It would not cover immigrant workers presently employed or those hired before July 1, 2007, in effect, providing these workers with state-level amnesty," Mr. Thurmond said in a statement.

Reach Vicky Eckenrode at (404) 681-1701 or vicky.eckenrode@morris.com.

From the Wednesday, March 29, 2006 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle

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http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/032906/opinion_20060329027.shtml
Shipp: Taxpayers betrayed by all politicians on immigration issue

  |     |   Story updated at 10:43 PM on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Bill Shipp more Shipp columns www.billshipp.com

My Czech-born wife Renate spent 26 years in the United States before she decided to become a citizen.

While she was trying to make up her mind, Renate followed precisely the instructions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. She dutifully registered every year at the post office. She kept her green card up-to-date.

We assumed that if she failed to comply with federal immigration laws, she might be deported. When she decided to become naturalized, she studied diligently the government-recommended texts on civics and history. Renate passed the citizenship test in a breeze and also proved to examiners that she could read, write and speak English. The day of her American naturalization was one of the happiest of our lives. We staged a grand patriotic celebration. There was only one slight flaw: The federal judge presiding over the ceremony fell asleep on the bench.

I should have known then. The federal government didn't give a damn. Illegal, schmilegal - the age of protecting our borders and caring who comes and goes was about over. Citizenship was no longer a big deal. The year was 1982. Ronald Reagan was president.

Now look at us. The country is in crisis mode. Illegal aliens have flooded our Southern and Western states. Not all illegals are unskilled Latinos seeking a better life. Educated Muslim terrorists with Middle East origins roamed the country for months without valid visas and finally attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001, leaving 3,000 dead. The feds knew these suicidal fanatics were among us but didn't have the energy or gumption to round them up. Similar madmen are undoubtedly still at large and waiting for their appointed time.

In Georgia illegal aliens, mostly Mexicans, have overwhelmed health care, education and law enforcement agencies in several locales. We are not financially equipped to host the hordes. Yet big industries (tufted textiles, agriculture, construction, etc.) say they can't endure without them.

Our elected officials have finally awakened. "It's a time for action!" they cry.

After sitting on his hands for six years, even President Bush is stirring. Sen. Johnny Isakson, putting on his stern face, says Congress must move. The state legislature also is trying to get into the immigration act. The General Assembly's approach is to tax and make life generally uncomfortable and inconvenient for illegal Latino laborers.

However, the state stuff is relatively tepid compared to what is really required. Immigration is a federal responsibility in need of careful, international attention. Besides, many of the state lawmakers involved in this "immigration opportunity" are attention-starved second-raters - part of the same bunch supporting more legal gunplay in our public parks and scolding dead New Dealers and a has-been actress.

Politicians must walk gingerly on immigration. Gov. Sonny Perdue, who has farming interests, has emerged as a voice of moderation. Sen. Saxby Chambliss favors granting temporary legal status to some migrant farm workers. The corporate world has little enthusiasm for illegal alien roundups. What's left of our factories and farms needs the low-pay, low-maintenance workers to survive.

Besides, the illegal-alien culture has become entrenched. Tens of thousands demonstrate at the mere mention of trying to close the borders and deporting a few of the millions of their undocumented brethren. They find it an outrage that the federal government is even contemplating enforcing present laws, much less enacting tougher ones.

Spokespersons for the undocumented residents argue that the feds did next to nothing while hungry and ambitious peasants crossed our borders illegally, took low-paying jobs, bore children (American citizens when they took their first breath) and established communities.

Advocates for illegal workers say it's a little late to start undoing that tangle now. They fear that federal and state governments are about to harm their lawbreaking clients and constituents.

Let's face it, friends. It doesn't matter what the federal and state governments attempt at this late date. The real wronged parties in this mess are you and I - law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who believed our government would at least protect the integrity of our borders and fend off invasion of any kind. We have been betrayed.

Just as the feds let slide the New Orleans' levees, they yawned at illegal immigration. Now it may be too late to repair either problem.

• Bill Shipp can be reached at shipp1@bellsouth.net.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 032906



 
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http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=77950

Hispanics Unite Against Changes

Keith Whitney reports

Reported By: Keith Whitney

Web Editor: Michael King

Last Modified: 3/29/2006 6:09:46 AM

Members of the Hispanic community bristle at terms like illegal alien. They believe it makes it easier for people to forget that, at the core, they are just like everyone else, with families to raise and mouths to feed.

Like most in the state's Hispanic community, Jose Cruz knows a lot about Georgia's tough new immigration bill. He is not an illegal alien, but he was when his family first came to this country.

"She came with what we call the coyote, which is the guy that knows how to get through each country, all the way through until you cross the border," said Cruz.

The only thing different about Tuesday night dinner with the Cruz family and most others around Metro Atlanta might be the menu and the language.

"The opportunities to go to school to better yourself, have the American dream, it's all here. It's all here," said Cruz.

Many Hispanics concede the need for some sort of immigration overhaul, but not to the extent planned in Georgia.

"Something good has come out of this -- it has united us moreso than we have ever been. It is a wake up call," Cruz said.

In fact, protests like the ones in Georgia and elsewhere are galvanizing the Hispanic community all over the country, demonstrating their economic and political strength.

"A lot of people are going to be hurt, and it's not just the Latino community. Because they're going to find jobs in other places, but the people are so dependent now in construction, landscaping, restaurants, all kinds," said Sara Gonzales, president of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Minority Business Development Agency says Hispanic businesses pump more than $40 billion a year into the national economy.

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http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=77944

One-Man Immigration Crime Fighter

Jaye Watson report D.A. King

Web Editor: Michael King

Reported By: Jaye Watson

Last Modified: 3/29/2006 6:15:16 AM

"It was never my intention to wind up where I am today," said D.A. King.

King sat in his Marietta home just minutes before the House passed Senate Bill 529.

"I was debt-free three years ago, we were moving to Florida, we had the house picked out," said King.

But King says he was compelled to make another choice. An insurance agent-turned-one-man movement, he has devoted his life, and his life savings, to fighting illegal immigration.

"I see very few people who are willing to stand up and say our borders should be secured and the law should be equally applied," King said.

King is loud. So are his critics. Some accuse him of being a racist. Some have threatened to harm him.

King says he has many Hispanic friends, and that it is not an ethnic issue, but an illegal one.

"I have apparently become a face of the 82 percent of the people in Georgia who are sick of this. I've had enough," said King.

King says he doesn't buy the argument that illegal aliens perform jobs Americans aren't willing to do.

"There are no jobs Americans will not do. It's a myth invented by the illegal alien lobby," King said.

King spent the current legislative session consulting with politicians and testifying before committees. Critics call it spewing or spouting. King calls it the truth, and he says he will not be quiet.

"There is a group of people for whom the law does not apply. So far it's people who are illegal and the employers who hire them. And all that leaves is the poor dumb sucker taxpayer paying for all of that," said King.

--
Erik Voss
erik@ICAtlanta.org
404-457-5901 Direct