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From Staff Reports
Asheville City Council took steps July 10 toward stemming what Councilman Carl Mumpower called a ìfloodî of illegal immigration.
Among the measures passed was a directive to Police Chief Bill Hogan to report on July 24 about the possibility and associated costs of giving police some federal powers, such as better access to databases.
It also voted 6-1 to establish a regional study group that could
include law enforcement officers from Buncombe and Henderson counties
as well as staff members of U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville.
Vice Mayor Holly Jones voted against that measure, saying that
she thought the issue was better handled by the federal government.
Council also directed the city staff to put a link on its Web
site for employers who wish to take part in a voluntary federal program
aimed at stopping the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Mumpower, who urged council to adopt the measures, said that
police often arrest illegal immigrants for violations such as driving
while impaired but the crimes go unpunished because officers are unable
to accurately identify them.
Mayor Terry Bellamy said she had spoken to officials in
Charlotte about how they handle illegal immigration and that they had
suggested that Asheville employ the same study-commission model used
there.
Asheville resident† Bill Lack disputed the effectiveness of
Charlotteís approach, saying that† while Mecklenburg County had taken
steps to stem illegal immigration, Charlotte, its biggest city, had not.
Bellamy countered that Charlotte and Mecklenburg had worked together on their plan.
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