Thread: Minutemen challenge Kennewick

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local ... 4969c.html

Minutemen challenge Kennewick

Published Wednesday, September 6th, 2006

By Andrew Sirocchi, Herald staff writer

The state representative of a volunteer border patrol group challenged Kennewick Mayor Jim Beaver on Tuesday to revive a failed resolution that would punish those who hire, rent or help undocumented migrants.

Shawna Forde, the Everett-based state representative of the Minutemen, pointedly told Beaver she was concerned about the council's apparent unwillingness to discuss illegal immigration and questioned why the mayor shut down a conversation this summer.

"What side of the community are you concerned about?" she asked.

"What we're saying is bring it to the table again and you, as the mayor, should bring it to the table," she added later.

In July, the council decided not to pursue an ordinance proposed by Councilman Bob Parks that would fine landlords $1,000 for each undocumented immigrant renting their apartments.

Parks modeled his proposal after a Hazelton, Pa., ordinance that garnered national attention after it established English as the official language of the town and prohibited documents from being distributed in any other language.

In Kennewick, the ordinance died after Minutemen representatives clashed with a group of Hispanic supporters outside City Hall after a July workshop to discuss the proposal. Public comment wasn't allowed during that meeting and that angered the Minutemen.

"I'm one-seventh of the council," Beaver told Forde. "The item was discussed. The majority of the city council said it would not move forward."

Councilman Bob Olson voiced the only support for Park's proposal this summer. Other council members said they were concerned about whether the ordinance could be enforced, the cost associated with putting it in place and a lack of data supporting its credibility.

The Hazelton law pits the blame for increasing crime rates on undocumented migrants. It claims the undocumented are responsible for draining hospital funding, destroying neighborhoods and reducing the quality of life of those who live in the country legally but it does not provide documentation for its claims.

"The people who are coming here (illegally) are breaking the law as soon as they step foot inside our borders," said Kennewick resident John Flannagan, who called the lack of effort to tighten immigration control a "disgrace."

He was one of about a dozen Minutemen supporters who attended the meeting. "If we don't start it here or elsewhere, we're going to be overrun," he said.

Jim Warren of Kennewick said people are going to local government for solutions because they feel Congress has been a closed door.

"I don't call it illegal immigration," he said. "It's an alien invasion."

Councilwoman Margery Price has said she was opposed to the ordinance because it is unenforceable and asked Forde how she thinks the city could fine landlords for renting to undocumented migrants.

Forde presented the council members with a packet of information and said the answers would be there. After the meeting, she said Hazelton enforces its ordinance by requiring tenants and landlords to get a license from city hall before renting an apartment or home.

She also said the city would have to document and investigate any suspicious cases.

But that's where cities such as Kennewick have had trouble establishing ordinances like Hazelton's. Already cash-strapped and finding it increasingly challenging to pass additional tax measures, municipalities say they are finding it difficult to set aside money to enforce a law that is already the federal government's responsibility to enforce.

In July, Beaver said the city had too much on its plate to take on the job of immigration enforcement and still provide services residents have become accustomed to without new taxes.

Forde said the Minutemen plan to expand a local office, adding that new members are joining the group. But Forde wouldn't say how many members the organization has regionally or statewide.

Still, she said public opinion is on the side of tightening border security and the council should know.

"I want the mayor to choose a side," she said. "I challenge him to get out and talk with his community."

Minutemen are getting better press coverage now.

I'm glad to see this is being revisited - even by the MM.

On my list of ToDo's is to jump in on our Focus effort for Kennewick:

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=39466

One point that cannot be overemphasized, is that there is important national infrastructure in the area and having any people residing in the area 'under the radar' (eg. 'illegally') should be a concern to everyone.