Thread: Alabama commission hears business, worker sides of immmigrat

Oct 31, 2007
Alabama commission hears business, worker sides of immmigration
By PHILLIP RAWLS
Associated Press Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. A state task force developing recommendations about illegal immigration heard pleas Wednesday from business owners who can't find enough American workers and an Alabama construction worker who can't find a decent paying job.

The Joint Patriotic Immigration Commission was created by the Legislature to come up with recommendations by February. Its first public hearing was filled with emotional stories from business owners who want a guest worker program and others who say illegal immigrants are taking American's jobs by working for depressed wages.

Construction worker Thomas Lawrimore of Falkville complained that he used to make $18 to $20 per hour, but now is unemployed due to companies hiring illegal immigrants willing to work cheaper.

His wife, June, said she understands that illegal immigrants enter the country to pursue the American dream, but a lack of work has put her family at risk of losing its house.

"That American dream has turned into an American nightmare for me," she said.

David Roberson, president of Cavalier Homes in Addison, said the company can't find enough domestic employees to fill the 1,500 jobs at its four plants in Alabama.

"We see a much better ethic and work force coming from the Hispanic population," he said.

He said sending all illegal immigrants in Alabama home would devastate the state's economy.

Carole Barton of Barton's Greenhouse and Nursery in Alabaster said her business uses seven immigrants provided by an employee leasing business. She said she would like to have American workers, but can't find people willing to do the tough outdoor work, even though the pay is about twice the minimum wage.

"For every American who applies at our business, we probably have 50 immigrants knock on our door," she said.

Jerry Newby, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation, told the committee that the state's farmers need foreign help to harvest their crops and operate their nurseries.

"What we need is a guest worker program where the farmers and other industries are not held responsible when someone does get in," Newby said.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks estimated Alabama has 52,000 illegal immigrants, but he urged the committee to look to Congress, rather than the Legislature, for a solution.

"We do not need patchwork proposals state by state," he said.

Wayne Funk, leader of the Montgomery area chapter of the Minutemen Civil Defense Force, recounted helping his group patrol the Texas-Mexico border and seeing illegal immigrants dashing through fields.

"I'm looking for a government that will enforce its laws," he said.

Representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama and the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice urged the committee to go slow because federal law limits what states can do on immigration issues. Both groups warned the commission to expect litigation if Alabama tries to restrict the federal rights of immigrants.

The public hearing had been the only one scheduled by the commission. But after Huntsville talk radio show host Dale Jackson complained that it was difficult for average citizens to get to a public hearing during a work day in Montgomery, the committee voted to hold three more hearings across the state at night or on Saturdays.

The commission's chairman, Jay Reed, vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, said the hearings will likely be in November or early December in north Alabama, the Birmingham area, and south Alabama.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20071 ... achetime=5

Both groups warned the commission to expect litigation if Alabama tries to restrict the federal rights of immigrants.

Illegal "immigrants" have federal rights???

It's already against federal law to hire illegal aliens.

These are also deportable offenses per federal law:

"Provides for exclusion of aliens (in terms similar to current law) in the following categories: (1) an alien who is likely to become a public charge; (2) those who do not meet special rules for labor certification of teachers, scientists, and artists or qualifications for foreign medical school graduates; (3) illegal entrants and immigration violators (with revised provisions for aliens previously deported, certain aliens previously removed, aliens seeking benefit from misrepresentation, stowaways, and smugglers of undocumented aliens, as well as aliens subject to specified civil penalties); (4) those who do not meet certain documentation requirements for immigrant or nonimmigrant visas; and (5) those who are ineligible for citizenship. Makes ineligible for citizenship those who are permanently ineligible, and certain draft evaders."

December 19. 2007 9:48AM

Alabama's immigration commission plans hearings across state

The Associated Press


MONTGOMERY, Ala. A commission created by the Alabama Legislature to study illegal immigration is going on the road for public hearings.

Panel chairman Jay Reed said the Joint Interim Patriotic Immigration Commission will have a hearing at 6 p.m. on Jan. 3 at the Huntsville Museum of Art.

Other hearings are planned at 6 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Hoover Public Library and at 6 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Moorer-Spring Hill branch of the Mobile Public Library.

The commission is scheduled to report to the Legislature in February.

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20071 ... /712190696

Immigration Meeting In Huntsville

Posted: Jan 1, 2008 01:33 PM PST


HUNTSVILLE,AL - A commission created by the Alabama Legislature to study illegal immigration is going on the road Thursday for the first of 3 public hearings across the state.

Panel chairman Jay Reed says the Joint Interim Patriotic Immigration Commission will have a hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Huntsville Museum of Art.

Other hearings are planned at 6 p.m. on January 10 at the Hoover Public Library and at 6 p.m. on January 17 at the Moorer-Spring Hill branch of the Mobile Public Library.

The 21-member commission is made up largely of legislators and business people. It is scheduled to report to the Legislature in February.

Web Producer- Brett Haas

http://www.waaytv.com/global/story.asp?s=7564404