Fred Thompson to address illegal immigrantion during Atlanta

[GREGAGREATAMERICAN]

Fred Thompson to address illegal immigrantion during Atlanta visit


By JIM GALLOWAY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 10/17/07
[url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/10/17/fred_1018_web.html]http://www.ajc.com[/url

In a first, brief swing through metro Atlanta Thursday, presidential candidate Fred Thompson will press the hot-button issue of illegal immigration in an attempt to separate Republicans in Georgia — and throughout the South — from GOP rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.

Before embarking on a day of fund-raisers and private meetings, the former Tennessee senator and "Law and Order" actor will meet with reporters to announce endorsements of his candidacy by two Cobb County officials — Sheriff Neil Warren and District Attorney Pat Head.


Fred Thompson and his wife, Jeri Kehn, in 2006.

In the context of a national campaign, both local officials might normally be considered small fry.

But in July, Warren became the first Georgia sheriff to have his deputies trained to determine the immigration status of inmates in the county jail, and to work with U.S. immigrations officials to keep some of those without papers locked up.

Other Georgia agencies, both state and local, have quickly followed.

"It's been 'catch and release,'" Warren said Wednesday. "That's why I got into this. The federal government has not provided the resources. They have not done their job."

On Wednesday, Warren said 474 of the 2,230 inmates in the Cobb jail were illegal immigrants, waiting for U.S. immigration officials to receive them.

The Cobb commission has also enacted its own rules that require any company with a county contract to run their new hires through a federal database to make sure the employee has legal working papers. The county also restricted the number of adults who can live in one house, based on square footage.

In the South, much more than in the early nomination states of Iowa and New Hampshire, illegal immigration remains the most volatile issue in Republican politics.

As a magnet state for new immigrants, Georgia is experiencing a demographic transformation in its neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and parks.

Georgia has had one of the fastest growing populations of illegal immigrants in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Between 2000 and 2006, the state added an average of about 45,000 illegal immigrants each year. Homeland Security estimated Georgia's population of illegal immigrants at 490,000 as of January 2006.

This summer, a harsh reaction from GOP voters forced U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to back away from their efforts to negotiate a compromise with Democrats on immigration reform.

"One of the things that separates Giuliani and Romney from Thompson is immigration," said state Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), who has helped organize Thompson's one-day visit.

Romney has accused Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, of running a "sanctuary city" friendly to illegal immigrants. Giuliani has accused Romney of tolerating, while governor of Massachusetts, "sanctuary" cities in his state.

In September, on a visit to Atlanta, Giuliani raised some Republican eyebrows when he categorized illegal immigration as something other than a crime.

At least in Georgia, Thompson is well positioned to benefit from any discussion of the issue.

In 2006, Georgia enacted one of the most stringent laws in the country, aimed to cut down on illegal immigration. The law requires that no one receive public benefits unless they have the paperwork to prove they are entitled to it.

The sponsor of the legislation was state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), who is now the executive director of the Thompson campaign in Georgia.

Rogers said Georgia will be important to Thompson, but voters should expect the candidate to spend more of his time in South Carolina, which votes in January and is his first "must-win" state.

"South Carolina and Georgia — these Southern states he needs to win," Rogers said.

Also Thursday, Thompson will attend two fund-raisers, one at the west Cobb County home of attorney Lance Cooper. Thompson will also have a luncheon with many of the 60 or so Republican lawmakers who form the core of the Thompson's support in Georgia.

[blkkat99]

Nothing to see here people....Keep moving!!

Just anohter CFR member mouthpiece, pro Nafta,Cafta, SPP, bought and paid for Globalist...blowing smoke up our proverbial butts...Only differnce is this time around many of us are paying attention!

[SOSADFORUS]

Nothing to see here people....Keep moving!!

Just anohter CFR member mouthpiece, pro Nafta,Cafta, SPP, bought and paid for Globalist...blowing smoke up our proverbial butts...Only differnce is this time around many of us are paying attention!

and the Blowhard is already dropping in the polls!!

[GREGAGREATAMERICAN]

I dont think he even wants to run !!!

Its like some body said run so hes trying it...
I starting to see him act like he could care less about America !!!

[SOSADFORUS]

He's been reported as being really lazy, at least that is what they said he was when he was in congress!