Thread: NC:What should immigration policy be?

What should immigration policy be?
Voters say illegal immigration is a major worry. Candidates bring a variety of views to the table.


John Crichton plays with his dog Bandit, a toy fox terrier. The retired manufacturing manager worries that illegal immigration is hurting the country.
Staff Photo by Jason Arthurs

Illegal immigration is one of the top concerns of voters, both nationally and in North Carolina, this election year.
Some voters such as John Crichton, whose ancestors immigrated from Ireland and Scotland to America, see a difference between the latest round of immigration and what occurred with their families. They don't see new immigrants assimilating into American culture, and they worry that the costs outweigh any benefits.

Today's Q section outlines the candidates' proposals on illegal immigration and their track records on the issue. We're focusing on major races -- the presidential, gubernatorial and U.S. Senate primary contests.

Here's a closer look at a few key statistics.


300,000


The estimated number of illegal immigrants in North Carolina.

Advocates estimate that about half the approximately 600,000 Hispanics in the state are here illegally. Their population has increased sharply since 1990, when there were fewer than 80,000 Hispanics in North Carolina. Several states in the Southeast have seen an influx of illegal immigrants as population growth fueled a boom in farming, construction, landscaping and other industries that use immigrant labor.


28 percent


Estimate of immigrants in the United States in the country illegally.

Despite a growing feeling that illegal immigrants outnumber others, more than two-thirds of foreign-born residents are naturalized citizens, legal residents or refugees, according to the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington.


3 percent


People in North Carolina who don't speak English well.

According to a census report last year, the percentage of residents who said they did not speak English well had increased from 2.5 percent in 2000. Less than 1 percent of the state's 8.9 million residents speak no English, the census estimates.

That means that, despite a fast-growing immigrant population, North Carolina still ranks far behind states such as California, Texas and New York in non-English speakers. In those states, nearly a quarter of the population speaks English poorly or not at all.


240


Number of laws passed by state legislatures in 2007 that dealt with immigration.

The number that passed represents only a fraction of the nearly 1,600 immigrant bills that were introduced in states across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Some of the laws target employers who hire illegal immigrants and are being challenged in court. Arizona recently passed a host of get-tough immigration laws that took effect this year.

Towns and counties are also getting in on the action. In 2006, Hazelton, Pa., was among the first towns to pass laws targeting illegal immigrants and those who do business with them. A court later found the law unconstitutional.

In North Carolina, Beaufort County passed an English-only ordinance in 2007 and has gotten advice from a lawyer on what other actions it can take to discourage illegal immigrants from living there.

The voter

At 73, John Crichton's financial future is secure. The Cary resident has raised five children, finished his career as a manufacturing manager and now spends his days with his wife, Louise, golfing, volunteering with their church or helping out with the local police department.

But he has begun to think that illegal immigration is hurting the country that his 13 grandchildren will inherit. He worries that younger Americans will be left to foot the bill for social services for a growing underclass.

Like many in North Carolina and around the nation, Crichton says illegal immigration zoomed to the top of his priority list during the national debate over immigration reform in 2007. He was angered by a plan that offered legal status to people who entered the country illegally. The plan failed after it sparked an outcry from similar-minded people.

Crichton, a Connecticut native who moved to North Carolina three decades ago, says he doesn't believe claims that immigrants are needed workers. He thinks they take jobs in construction and other fields that would otherwise go to undereducated Americans.

And he thinks they are draining government coffers for social services, health care and education.

Crichton says that, with all three presidential candidates supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, he will have to "hold my nose and vote" in that race. In state races, he will be looking for candidates that espouse strict enforcement of current immigration laws.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/q/story/1051476.html

Right on for Crichton

John Crichton has reason to be concerned and focusing on the state races!

240


Number of laws passed by state legislatures in 2007 that dealt with immigration

Number of those 240 laws that were passed in North Carolina - 0 -

The Democratic Governor, Democratic Lt. Governor (now running for the top spot), and the Democratic controlled State General Assembly have rejected every proposal put before them to help control the influx of illegal immigrants and the damage being done to the North Carolina economy and the lives of our citizens. Check the record folks, every single bill has been sent to committee to die with the one exception of the driver's license bill. Now the Governor's office has mandated admission of illegal's into our community colleges and next is in-state tuition.

Like Mr. Crichton, choose your candidate wisely this election for all offices at every level. Get informed if you aren't already and go to the polls to vote! UNC-TV (local broadcast channel 4) is running debates showcasing all the candidates who want to speak so tune in and listen to what they have to say as if your life depended on it. You never know, it just might...