Thread: Charlotte, NC: Letter has panel on immigration debating its

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 339857.htm

Posted on Fri, Apr. 14, 2006

Letter has panel on immigration debating its role
Note to legislators an analysis of immigrants' impact on the state

DÁNICA COTO
dcoto@charlotteobserver.com

A strong debate ensued Thursday as Charlotte's immigration study commission questioned whether it should take a stance on proposed federal legislation regarding illegal immigrants.

The disagreement began when chairman Alan Gordon, a local immigration attorney, read aloud a letter he wanted to send legislators about the commission and its analysis of the impact immigrants have on the state.

Hal Weatherman, chief of staff for Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., objected to the letter because it mentioned a guest-worker program. That proposal is not part of a House-passed bill that Myrick supports, he said.

Commission members, which include Latino advocates, federal immigration agents and health care officials, then debated the commission's role: Should it advocate for specific legislation? Should it wait to state its position until the U.S. Senate reaches an agreement? Should only certain members call for action?

"Not everybody is in the same position, and we have to be understanding of them," Gordon said.

John Quealy, area port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said before he agreed to the letter he would need to run it by his boss and make sure it's in line with the agency's mission.

Several members of the 29-person commission, meanwhile, requested that the letter be sent immediately.

"We need some kind of a business worker program," said Stephen Gennett, president of the Carolinas Associated General Contractors of America.

Gennett is chair of the economic development and work force subgroup within the commission. He and other members distributed more than 600 surveys to construction companies recently to better understand the role of Latino workers. In the 27 surveys he's received so far, Latinos make up more than half of the companies' work force, often in management.

One company official replied, "I cannot find anybody to do manual labor required in concrete and water-proofing There are not any native Charlotteans that apply. None."

Other subgroups are still working on their findings. The health care group, for example, wants to know how much money is spent on translation services, while the education group wants to explore in-state tuition for undocumented students.

Commission members will review the letter they plan to send to the Senate and will submit suggestions by next week. They'll continue meeting and could make policy recommendations to local governments on work, education, health and law enforcement as it relates to immigrants.
Dánica Coto: (704) 358-5065.

It's odd that it was quoted he could not find Americans to do the work... I too live in the Charlotte area, and a landscaper I know said he needed help and placed an ad in the paper. He said he got ABOUT 100 RESPONSES, and ALL were AMERICANS! Odd, huh?

Not really odd Ronnie. He just can't get Americans at the slave-labor wages he's willing to pay illegals. Too bad we don't know who said that. I'd really like to enlighten him.