|
Tuesday, 29 August 2006 21:16 |
By DAVID FORBES
Asheville City Council passed a resolution 6-1 on Aug. 22 calling for more enforcement of immigration laws ÇƒÓ and ways for undocumented immigrants to eventually earn citizenship. However, the resolution specifically did not call for city police or staff to transport undocumented immigrants for deportation.
"We encourage more opportunities for legal immigration
and for people who live here and contribute ÇƒÓ they need to have a way
to become citizens," Councilwoman Robin Cape said.
The passage of the resolution came after a contentious public hearing
that saw opponents of illegal immigration seeking stricter enforcement
ÇƒÓ and those who asserted that such a measure would only harm the poor
and encourage racism.
The final resolution was radically different from one sought by
proponents of an earlier measure first proposed by Councilman Carl
Mumpower, who in the end cast the lone dissenting vote. His original
resolution focused on enforcement, threatened businesses who hired
undocumented immigrants with fines and called on city police to
transport illegal immigrants they found to the Immigration and
Naturalization Service.
Many of the proponents are members of the Buncombe County Republican
Action Club, which opposes illegal immigration and backed Mumpowerës
measure.
At a public hearing prior to the vote, members of the club wore
stickers proclaiming "Had Enough?" with a picture of a Mexican flag
flying over an upside-down American flag. A billboard with the same
image was defaced earlier this month ÇƒÓ and some opponents have termed
the groupës positions racist.
After running into criticism from fellow council members at the July
and August work sessions, Mumpower made the motion to support a
compromise resolution, which simply called for "illegal immigration
reform," though he did note "that while this is a good first step, I
feel we need to do more."
But Cape said that she wanted to add language clarifying the resolution
and encouraged council to amend the resolution to clarify its support
of the National League of Cities resolution on illegal immigration.
That resolution specifically states that city police departments and
staff "should not be conscripted into federal service because the
federal government ahs not adequately funded its staff and enforcement
agencies."
Mumpower supported the resolution without the amendment. He voted
against its inclusion and when the remaining council members voted
against him, withdrew his original motion ÇƒÓ and opposed the subsequent
one.
"Staff had clear language on this resolution ÇƒÓ it calls for increased
enforcement of immigration laws and leaves it at that," Mumpower said.
"Its simple, its not racist and it doesnët attack. Its crafted in a way
Iëd be very hestitant to alter at this point. We have a responsibility
to enforce our laws at the local level."
By way of reply, Councilman Brownie Newman said he felt the revised
resolution to be "a thoughtful, reasonable way to address this problem.
"We obviously do need more enforcement, but we also need a process to
deal with the fact that thereës 12 million undocumented people here,"
Newman said. "Any idea that weëre just going to deport 12 million
people is just not workable."
In separate remarks, Councilman Bryan Freeborn blasted Mumpowerës
initial resolution ÇƒÓ and asserted that the Republican Partyës
motivation on the issue is mostly tied to winning elections.
"I think this (the new) resolution is reasonable and puts the ball in
the right court ÇƒÓ the federal court," Freeborn said. "There is a group
of individuals in our audience that are wearing stickers that say
theyëve had enough. I too, have had enough. In the last six years the
Republican Party has controlled the federal government and has done
nothing on this issue. In fact, it has gotten worse. What do they do?
They roll this issue out to wedge citizens against each other in an
election year.
"I donët think thatës fair to our citizens and I donët think itës fair
to strap our police with another unfunded mandate," Freeborn continued.
"They have found its reasonable to go along with our current system.
They have the ability to detain people. They donët need us to straddle
them with a goon squad to go around pulling people over because they
look Hispanic. To support such a proposal by Carl Mumpower is treading
very heavily on our Constitution and our Bill of Rights."
Earlier, a public hearing prior to the vote saw extensive comment from
those encouraging stricter enforcement of illegal immigrants ÇƒÓ and
those who asserted that reform of the immigration system, instead of
punishment, is needed.
At that hearing, Bill Caballero, a West Asheville resident who works in
social services, asserted that undocumented immigrants often come from
desperate circumstances ÇƒÓ and contribute more to the community,
especially through payroll and property taxes ÇƒÓ than they use.
"People are coming here because their situation are dire ÇƒÓ they are
coming here becuase theyëre not able to put food on the table for their
children," Caballero said. "Their taxes go to pay for our school
systems. The large majority of the children of undocumented adults are
in fact citizens born in this country. One of the negative impacts of
detaining and deporting adult undocumented immigrants is that they
would leave behind potentially children who are in fact citizens of
this country. I know of two examples of that in this community, where
the parents have been deported and the children are living with friends
and relatives."
He also asserted that, contrary to information put forward by BCRAC and
others, illegal immigrants are only allowed to get social services
under certain circumstances, such as pregnancy.
"Theyëre not allowed to get welfare checks or any other social
service," Caballero said. "When they go to the hospital, they get a
bill, same as anyone else."
But BCRAC President Kathie Lack asserted that she was "amazed by the
lethargy and disinterest shown by most of city council in this issue ǃÓ
most of you seem to believe this is not a problem" and said that her
groupës problem is not with legal immigrants.
"Legal immigrants have shown respect for our laws and are an asset to
this country ÇƒÓ I strongly support legal immigration," Lack said. "But
illegal aliens have jumped ahead of the line. Many of them obtain
fraudulent documents and use those documents to obtain social services,
medical care. Businesses can save money by hiring illegals, thus
depressing the wages of American workers. Contrary to the mantra that
theyëre doing jobs Americans wonët do, many Americans are being
replaced by illegals."
She added that the city should fine employers who "knowingly hire
illegal immigrants" and "fund the transportation of illegal aliens who
violate city ordinances" to the nearest INS office.
"Letës make Asheville an unpleasant and unfriendly environment for
those who break our immigration laws," Lack said. "I know people are
already thinking we might hurt somebodyës feelings. If we are to save
our city ÇƒÓ and in turn, our state and nation from becoming a haven for
illegal lawbreakers, there must be consequences. Everyone comes up with
sob stories about why itës ok to break the law ÇƒÓ itës not ok to break
the law."
In contrast, Gerri Solomon echoed Caballeroës assertions about the difficulties undocumented immigrants face.
"In general, people donët want to leave and come to our country, but
they have to because of tough circumstances," Solomon said. "Theyëre
leaving behind devastation, war, civil unrest, disaster or extremely
unlivable wages. Theyëre enriching our culture by starting businesses
and bringing values of respect and love of family."
Moreover, she asserted that Ashevilleës police would not be benefited
by also having to transport undocumented immigrants to INS for
deportation.
"I serve on two committees with the Asheville police ÇƒÓ they have made
it clear that they do not want to become immigration enforcers,"
Solomon added. "The officers made it clear that immigrants do not pose
a security threat. The immigration laws are very archaic and do not
address the realities of our community."
Meanwhile, Carlos Gomez, an undocumented immigrant who has been a
resident of Asheville since 1972 and accompanied former Mayor Charles
Worley on a trip to Mexico in 2004, commended council for its stance.
"This is a federal issue ÇƒÓ this is not a local issue," Gomez said.
"There are many, many things that this city needs to be working on
besides being immigration officers."
But Shaun Presnell, a military veteran and member of the BCRAC,
asserted that "people sit back and say this is just a federal problem ǃÓ
itës not, itës a United States problem. What Dr. Mumpower has brought
up should be passed. We have to start somewhere ÇƒÓ why not in our own
backyards?"
Earlier, to some applause, West Asheville resident Minnie Jones
asserted that she sees racism as a motive behind much of the
anti-immigrant backlash.
"This is Godës country and I hate to see the things Iëm seeing today ǃÓ
I would think we all could be above racism," Jones said. "I donët want
to call names, but I will tell you like my preacher told me ÇƒÓ you know
who you are. I wish you could find it in your hearts to make a change
and treat everyone as equal."
In response, Bill Lack countered by asserting that local governments
had once taken a similar approach to federal civil rights laws ǃÓ
asserting that it was not their responsibility to enforce them.
"A lot of sheriffs around the country said they didnët have to enforce
it because it was a federal law," he said. "It got into the courts and
time and time again, they said they had to enforce it. All weëre asking
is to help enforce the laws youëve got. When you have a wreck and
someone has an obvious counterfeit license ÇƒÓ take them to the INS and
deport them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
