Controversial issue to spark fiery debate in Charlotte tonight

Posted: Apr 20, 2011 8:38 AM EDT Updated: Apr 20, 2011 8:43 AM EDT
By Derrick Rose, Reporter - bio | email

Controversial issue takes center stage in Charlotte


CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Immigration is a topic that tears at the deepest emotions, and will be fueled in Charlotte Wednesday night by a powerful voice on the subject: Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).

Gutierrez is a lawmaker whose actions follow his words. He was willing to be arrested in Washington in 2010 for his beliefs on immigration reform.

"Often times with the primary bread-winner gone, they're facing economic challenges, they're facing eviction, all these other challenges and their children often are us citizens being impacted," Charlotte Latin American Coalition representative Ruben Campillo said.

Neither side believes the congressman can solve the issue in one night, but they're confident this debate will spark another fiery political season.

"We want the laws to change to reflect the realities that we live," Campillo added.

'We want illegal immigrants to go home and a lot of people are getting tired of telling them that," Gheen countered.

Gutierrez will speak at the Allen St. church at 6:30pm Wednesday night.

Campillo and the Coalition is giving Gutierrez the stage, suggesting the majority of undocumented immigrants in North Carolina are productive citizens and deportation is not the answer.

That's compared to laws that would give them a chance to become legal residents.

But amnesty, as opponents like William Gheen call that idea, is a worse way to go.

"For Americans and legal immigrants those deportations mean job opportunities, pressure on wages increases, increased classroom availability, decreased pressures on healthcare facilities, less stolen taxpayer resources, less felonious voting behavior," said Gheen of Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration PAC.

That's the issue the congressman will address when he speaks at St. Paul Baptist Church, specifically, deportation and it's effect on the immigrant community.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14480609