Thread: Another small town steps up!

Morganelli Announces Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants

From small-town coffee shops to Capitol Hill, the debate over illegal immigration is picking up steam.

Major moves on the issue are happening right here in our area, including a landmark decision to our north.

More on that later, first, we go to in Northampton County, where the D-A is turning up the heat on business owners who employ illegal immigrants.

He says the federal government isn't doing its part to curb the problem, so he's doing it himself.

WFMZ's Mike Lowe has more.

District Attorney John Morganielli says several businesses across the county are employing undocumented workers in kitchens and construction sites, fields and factories.

He says each business that does so is breaking the law.

SOT (2:40) "I want to send a very clear message that Northampton County is not a safe haven for criminals."

He launched investiagations of three businesses -- all unnamed for now -- operating in Northampton County. He says he'll announce prosecutions of those employers in the coming weeks.

SOT (1:53) "We have three current investigations which are almost completed. I believe its three strong cases against employers here in Northampton County."

(STAND UP) 20 years ago The Immigration Reform and Control Act set penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Morganelli says that law simply forced most workers to buy fake ID's to get a job.

SOT (:33) "Illegal immigrants are coming into the area, utilizing fraudulent documents. (BUTT) They're coming by the thousands, drugs, terrorists."

Statistics show there are more than 10 million illegal immigrants working in the U-S.

So the law apparently did little to deter employers from hiring illegal immigrants or to discourage them from working.

SOT (:51) "Obviously one of the magnets are the employers who are employing illegals at a very low wage. If they are paying minimum wage or above, they're off the books avoiding taxes."

Morganelli says the federal government isn't enforcing the law, so its up to local officials to do it.

In Easton, Mike Lowe 69 News.

http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=v ... ryid=18083

Go John!

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1350

W

Now if we could just get them to do that here in NC we'd be ok