"Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 4/20/'06 12:30 AM
"Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 4/20/'06 12:30 AM
4/20/'06 - The following article(s) were found in the media. Several stories are provided ... with links to the original sources ... for your convenience:
- Kingston on Immigration
- Is Georgia's Immigration Bill a Step Forward or Back?
- Immigration Officials Raid Employer Of Illegal Workers
- 6 quit Perdue's Latino board
- Brownback says undocumented immigrants won't be made felon
- Officials net about 100 suspected illegal immigrants
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http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4791503&nav=0qq6
04/19/06
Kingston on Immigration
US Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA Dist. 1) spoke to a group of seniors this morning at the Marshes on Skidaway Island. They talked about everything from prescription drug plans to rising gas prices to illegal immigration reform.
Kingston is currently fighting for tougher national laws that would help police deport illegal immigrants, require illegals who are here to obtain work permits and help save millions of dollars in taxpayer money.
"What we have to do, regardless of how legislation works on a state or federal level, we have to say this is the law and we have to enforce it," he said. "One reason we are getting bogged down is we don't have certainty and clarity."
Kingston praised the State of Georgia for passing tougher immigration laws. The bill was signed by the governor earlier this week.
Reported by: Michelle Paynter, mpaynter@wtoc.com
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http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1185259,00.html
Web Exclusive| Nation
Is Georgia's Immigration Bill a Step Forward or Back?
While Washington continues to debate the hot button issue, states are starting to take the matter of undocumented immigrants into their own hands.
By GREG FULTON/ATLANTAPosted Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2006
While the Senate prepares to return to the thorny issue of immigration reform next week, states are fast becoming a major battleground over the divisive issue. Earlier this week, just as Arizona's Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill that would have increased criminal penalties and arrest powers over illegal immigrants, Georgia's governor, Republican Sonny Perdue, signed into law one of the nation's toughest. It includes provisions requiring residents who are seeking state social welfare benefits to prove their legal status, as well as mandating that the police check the legal status of everyone they arrest and alert federal authorities to any violations.
The Georgia bill was considered so draconian, in fact, that it quickly sparked a diplomatic war of words. On Tuesday, Mexico's President Vincente Fox declared that Georgia's law included "acts of discrimination" and "half measures insufficient to resolve the complex phenomenon of immigration between Mexico and the United States." The reaction in Georgia to Fox's comments was typical of the heightened rhetoric that has fueled the Act since it was introduced at the beginning of the year."I would suggest the government of Mexico stop concerning themselves with what we do in Georgia and instead worry about their own corrupt government," replied state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock).
Georgia's bill may be particularly tough, but it's only one of close to 370 immigrant-related bills proposed in 42 states across the U.S. this year. These include the Ohio Unity English Act, which would require all state and local government documents to be in English only, a Kansas bill that would dramatically reduce the amount of taxpayer money spent on social services for illegal immigrants, and a Maine proposal to require proof of citizenship in order to get a drivers license. Not all, however, are restrictive; a bill in Wyoming would increase educational opportunities for illegal immigrants. The reason for all this legislative activity isn't all that complicated. Says Ann Morse, program director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, "It's the confluence of the sizable numbers of unathorized immigrants, the effects of 911 and the perception that we can't control the borders and of course the frustration that the federal government isn't doing anything."
In the middle of an election year, it's also not altogether surprising that Georgia's GOP governor signed the Security and Immigration Compliance Act. Even though the state continues to trend more Republican, Perdue faces a very real challenge this fall from Democratic Secretary of State Cathy Cox, and the law commanded broad public support in a state with an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 undocumented immigrants.
Still, as tough as the Georgia bill is, it did ultimately include some notable exceptions. Residents will not have to prove their status to receive emergency medical care, prenatal care and immunizations of children, though cynics say that was done solely in order to withstand court challenges. The Act also targets big business, forcing employers to prove employees are legal and providing for fines if found otherwise.
But that may not be enough for Tisha Tallmann, Southeast regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. She says her organization is still considering a legal challenge to the Act, in part because immigrants, she says, contribute some $200 million to the annual tax base, and should not be denied public services that they help fund. "Instead of waiting for Congress," says Tallmann. "Georgia has decided to take matters into its own hands, signing into law a punitive bill that does nothing to solve this complex issue." Unless Washington can finally tackle that issue, more states will follow Georgia's lead in coming up with their own solutions, however flawed some may think they are.
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http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003245113
Immigration Officials Raid Employer Of Illegal Workers
April 19, 2006 9:30 p.m. EST
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A major crackdown on a company that employs illegal immigrants results in the arrest of seven managers and hundreds of workers nationwide.
The Associated Press reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided IFCO Systems offices and plants in at least nine states.
Authorities had spent a year investigating the company that makes crates and pallets, prior to the raids.
Immigration officials say seven current and former IFCO Systems managers are accused of conspiring to transport, harbor and encourage illegal workers to live in the U.S. in order to benefit financially.
ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback confirmed to the AP that a number of raids and arrests were made, but declined comment further.
The raids were conducted in New York, Biglerville, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Ohio; Houston, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Phoenix, Arizona; Richmond, Virginia, and Westborough, Massachussetts.
ICE chief Julie Myers says, "ICE has no tolerance for corporate officers who harbor illegal aliens for their work force. Today's nationwide enforcement actions show how we will use all our investigative tools to bring these individuals to justice, no matter how large or small their company."
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http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0420metpanel.html
6 quit Perdue's Latino board
No input on law on illegals cited
By SONJI JACOBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/20/06
Six members of Gov. Sonny Perdue's 17-member Latino Commission for a New Georgia have resigned because they say the governor did not seek their advice before signing the state's new anti-illegal immigration measure into law.
The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, which targets illegal immigrants and the people who employ them, created heated debate during the 2006 legislative session.
Supporters argued that the complicated measure is necessary because the federal government has failed to secure the borders, allowing waves of illegal immigrants to flood Georgia — estimates range from 250,000 to 800,000.
But critics say those illegal immigrants underpin many industries, take jobs Americans won't do, and contribute to the nation's economy.
Most of the Latino Commission members who stepped down — including one member who quit Wednesday — wrote in their resignation letters that Perdue should have tapped them for their knowledge of issues affecting Georgia's Hispanic community.
Some expressed their opposition to the illegal immigration legislation, but others simply said they were upset that the governor did not consult them."The fact that no feedback or opinions were elicited from this 'Latino Commission' make it very obvious to me that this commission is mere window dressing," Alex Salgueiro, president of the Savannah Restaurants Corp., wrote in his April 18 resignation letter. "As a dedicated Republican and a citizen of Georgia, I do not feel it is a good use of my valuable time to serve on a sham commission."
Perdue created the commission in July 2003 to serve as an advisory board to help develop minority-owned small businesses and to lure international companies to create jobs and conduct business in Georgia.
The commission members also were supposed to advise the governor on public policy issues such as education, health care and economic development.
Heather Hedrick, a spokeswoman for Perdue, said that commission members have been working with the governor on a possible teacher exchange-program with Puerto Rico.
The commission meets quarterly, and members often serve as surrogates for Perdue at various community events They also meet and talk with Hispanic media outlets and interest groups on the governor's behalf, Hedrick said.
Sara Gonzalez, president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was one of the first commission members to step down because she felt her input was not sought on Senate Bill 529.
"I thought that the role of the commission was to offer the governor counsel or advice," Gonzalez said Wednesday. "I felt that was not the case. It was not happening."
Hedrick said that while the governor did not personally meet with the commission members on Senate Bill 529, his staff solicited opinions from the commission on the anti-illegal immigration measure through an e-mail sent March 30.
"We are disappointed that these members of the Latino Commission have resigned, especially because Senate Bill 529 is not an anti-immigrant bill," Hedrick said Wednesday. "We are a welcoming state — but we're also a law-abiding state. We welcome everyone to come to Georgia — but we ask they use the front door, not the back door."
At least one commission member sent Perdue a note expressing his support of the measure."This is my home, I feel that anyone coming to live and work here should abide by our rules set down by so many Godly people so many years ago," commission member Gilbert Esparza wrote in a April 19 e-mail message. "Please accept my thanks to you for taking a stand."
Under the law, adult illegal immigrants may not obtain some taxpayer-funded services.
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http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/14374054.htm
Brownback says undocumented immigrants won't be made felons
Associated Press
DODGE CITY, Kan. - A proposal to make undocumented immigrants subject to felony arrest is "a really bad idea" that is not going to become law, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback told a group of religious leaders.
Republicans in the U.S. House passed a bill in December that included the felony arrest provisions, but the idea - along with other efforts to strengthen immigration laws in the U.S. - has been stalled in the Senate.
A national debate over immigration reform was the focus of Tuesday's meeting in Dodge City, where Brownback heard leaders of Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches criticize the proposals being considered in Congress.
The House bill is dangerous not only to immigrants, but also because, foes say, it would make it a felony for churches and others to offer immigrants aid.
Brownback said he was skeptical that lawmakers will agree on an immigration reform package anytime soon, partly because it is an election year and the topic is so divisive.
"What you have is just a divided country," Brownback said, lamenting the "anger and hatred" that has been injected into the debate. "There is a great cultural dispute in the country today, and you're seeing us (lawmakers) reflect it."
The church leaders said they supported granting illegal immigrants a way to become legal residents of the U.S., partly because of biblical requirements to help those in need.
The right to migrate in search of work and sustenance "is a fundamental right any person made in the image of God has," said Bishop Ronald Gilmore, head of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City.
A pending Senate proposal would grant residency in certain circumstances to immigrants who have been in the U.S. at least two years. Brownback said providing illegal immigrants a pathway to residency is "the most difficult part of the whole debate."
However, he said he supports the idea because it is mostly common sense. The other options would be doing nothing or rounding up the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country and getting them out of the U.S.
Brownback, a Catholic, also disputed critics who say granting "earned legalization" is like providing amnesty.
"You're not giving amnesty to anybody," he said. "It is a lot more like probation because you have to meet a series of requirements."
Information from: The Hutchinson News, http://www.hutchnews.com
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http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou060419_ac_IFCOraid.4e6402c6.html
Officials net about 100 suspected illegal immigrants
12:25 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 19, 2006
By Reggie Aqui / 11 News
A federal sting landed nearly 100 suspected undocumented immigrants in custody Wednesday morning. KHOU-TV Officials were questioning workers outside of the business. Harris County deputies, along with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, were at IFCO Systems in the 4800 block of North McCarty Street. Officials were also at another IFCO Systems location in the 6800 block of Flintlock. ICE officials said they believe IFCO Systems has been knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. As word of the immigration raid started to spread, family members of dozens of employees showed up. One woman came with a green card, proving her husband's status. Others, like Elmer Duran, came empty-handed. "I don't got no ID, I don't got nothing though," Duran said. "That's big trouble man." As he scanned the scene, he didn't see his cousin, so he figured he must have already been in custody, on a Homeland Security bus. His cousin is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, and Duran figured the bus has one final destination: deportation. "I think it's no good, man," Duran said. "We need money, we need work, we've got a family." Right or wrong, federal buses showed up at two Houston locations Wednesday morning. A few dozen families just want to know where the buses are going. On McCarty, officials were questioning about 25 to 30 people. ICE officials said the operation was part of a nationwide event in cities all over the country. --------------------------------
Erik Voss
erik@ICAtlanta.org
404-457-5901 Direct
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