Thread: Suffolk County clamping down on illegal immigrants

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?secti ... id=4487199

Suffolk County clamping down on illegal immigrants
Over 100 people turned out to voice their concerns at a hearing
Eyewitness News' Lucy Yang



Over 100 people turned out to voice their concerns at a hearing
Eyewitness News' Lucy Yang
(Long Island - WABC, August 22, 2006) - There was a heated hearing on Tuesday night out on Long Island after a proposal by the Suffolk County Executive to make companies doing business with the county prove that their workers are not illegal immigrants.

But not everyone thinks this is a good idea.

"If you're legal, I'll shake your hand. If you're not, go home," one protester said. "Americans only on my job," another protester added.

They vented as both sides waived the flag but stood worlds apart on what it means to be an American.

For Thomas Wedell, a father of four, his fight is primarily financial. He is losing construction jobs everyday to cheaper, illegal immigrants.

"It has nothing to do with racism, I am feeling it in the wallet. I cannot compete with these people that don't pay any taxes, don't pay any comp or liability. There's way too many of them," he said.

More than a 100 gathered at the Suffolk County Legislature building on Tuesday night to square off on the controversial immigration bill that would make it a crime for any company doing business with the county to hire undocumented workers like Rony, who asked us not to use his last name. He is from El Salvador and fighting for the chance to work.

"No human being is illegal ... and before God, all of us are the same," Rony said.

Opponents of the bill claim it's discriminatory and in itself, illegal, because only the federal government can regulate immigration. However, the bill is expected to pass next month with support from both parties.

"If we're doing business with an individual or with an agency, that they are hiring employees who are legitimate, documented and are paying their fair share of taxes," Suffolk County Legislator Daniel Losquadro said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longi ... 0706.story

Taking it to the streets
Both immigrant advocates and those against undocumented workers debate merits of Levy's verification bill

BY JAMES T. MADORE
Newsday Staff Writer

August 23, 2006

More than 200 union members, immigrant advocates and people opposed to undocumented workers rallied last night outside the Suffolk Legislature's building in Hauppauge to debate the merits of County Executive Steve Levy's immigrant workers bill.

Some people waved American flags. Others held up homemade signs urging the undocumented to go home. And one man dressed up as Uncle Sam.

The crowd remained orderly as police stood nearby and watched as speakers hotly debated whether Suffolk should require businesses and other entities with government contracts to sign affidavits stating their employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Later, inside, nearly 50 people testified before the legislature, in which 14 of the 18 members have told Newsday they support Levy's resolution. During the three-hour hearing, supporters of the bill outnumbered opponents 2 to 1.

Susan Steinmann of Mastic Beach complained about the chants of "Go home" that she heard outside the building. "I want our county to stand up for what is fine, good and decent. . . . Many of the problems [with undocumented workers] are real, but we should solve them in a way that doesn't demonize people."

Robert DiCarlo, a former state senator from Brooklyn who now lives in Stony Brook, urged Suffolk lawmakers to adopt Levy's bill, which seeks to strengthen enforcement of a 20-year-old federal law. He and others called for even tougher penalties than what are included in Levy's resolution.

Speakers from the Greater Farmingville Civic Association and the Suffolk County Minuteman Civil Defense Corps described illegal immigration as "an invasion" that is undermining the quality of life. "These [government contracted] jobs must be kept open for people who belong here," said Ronald Lewandowski of the Minuteman group.

Immigrant advocates countered that such statements, combined with Levy's bill, would increase discrimination. "Every time there is a problem in Suffolk County - it's the illegals who are blamed," said Luis Valenzuela of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance. "Veterans are being asked to 'go home,'" he said, referring to naturalized citizens who have served in the U.S. military.

Legis. Joseph T. Caracappa (R-Selden), who is co-sponsoring Levy's measure, emphasized the importance of all governments enforcing the law. But Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket), an opponent, questioned its necessity. "We should be enforcing the prevailing wage law that we have. Why do we need another law?" she said.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) announced that the public hearing would be adjourned to Sept. 5 - because of a mishap with a Smithtown weekly newspaper that failed to publish the hearing notice.

http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/i ... st=simetro

Suffolk Legislature considers anti-immigration bill
8/23/2006, 11:18 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

HAUPPAUGUE, N.Y. (AP) — A contentious anti-immigration bill in Suffolk County drew dozens of people to a public hearing on the issue, including several demonstrators who carried signs reading, "Deport Illegal Aliens."

Nearly 50 people testified before the Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday night, and supporters outnumbered opponents 2-to-1. The crowd outside included flag-waving protesters and one man dressed up as Uncle Sam.

The legislation is a new front on the assault on illegal immigration at a time when local governments nationwide are tackling the issue in several ways. The bill by County Executive Steve Levy would require companies doing business with Suffolk County to certify their employees are in the U.S. legally.

"These (government contracted) jobs must be kept open for people who belong here," said Ronald Lewandowski of the Minuteman group.

But advocates argued Tuesday that such statements would only serve to worsen discrimination against immigrants.

"Every time there is a problem in Suffolk County — it's the illegals who are blamed," said Luis Valenzuela of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance.

Levy's proposal would affect about 6,000 companies and agencies that have county contracts. The penalties include fines and potential jail time, and repeat offenders could forfeit their contracts. The legislature still has to vote on the bill, possibly next month.

"The thing that feeds illegal immigration is the hiring," Levy said in an interview with The Associated Press last week. "If every county and town and state used this type of law, it would go a long way in mitigating the immigration problem. If you dry up the jobs, you dry up the flow of illegal immigration."

Suffolk County, on the eastern half of Long Island, has experienced an influx of day laborers from Mexico and Central America over the past decade. Levy estimates that number has grown to 40,000.