Thread: Dole to focus on illegal immigration

Dole to focus on illegal immigration, fund raising
From Staff Reports
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/po ... 79877.html

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will be in Raleigh today to talk with sheriffs from Wake, Johnston, Chatham, Franklin and six other counties about illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
Dole is holding a series of conferences with sheriffs this month about a federal program to let deputies determine the legal status of immigrants and process those here illegally who are charged with crimes.

Kicking off the tour on Tuesday, Dole met with sheriffs from the western Piedmont. The sheriffs — from Catawba, Burke, Caldwell and Alexander counties — said they often see the same immigrants breaking laws across county lines, the Charlotte Observer reported. But deputies must travel to Charlotte to determine whether they are in the country legally.

"They simply don't have the money [to do this alone]," the Observer quoted Dole as saying. "They have had many frustrating problems because they just haven't had the tools."

Money from the federal program, Dole said, would let the four counties share a database housed in Catawba County.

The meeting in Raleigh today will take place at 3:50 p.m. at the Terry Sanford Federal Building and Courthouse on New Bern Avenue.

Dole's tour around the state coincides with a period of intense political fund raising, including major events in Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. Dole faces re-election next year.

The Raleigh fund-raiser takes place tonight at the Angus Barn.

Dole, a Salisbury Republican, has raised $2.76 million this year and had $1.76 million on hand June 20, the end of the last campaign finance reporting period.

So far, she has no Democratic opposition. Several Democrats are looking at the race, including state Rep. Grier Martin of Raleigh, state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro and former state Sen. Ted Kaplan of Winston-Salem.

Any relations to Bob Dole?

LOL j/king!

Thats a start helping Sheriffs with funding through fund raising and nab criminal illegals! My be our government should be floating the bill on this, but we know how they are!

What these politicions dont understand os that ALL illegals are criminals.

also don't forget, it's not the governments money...IT'S OURS!!!! the hard working American taxpayers!!

Originally Posted by Lone_Patriot

also don't forget, it's not the governments money...IT'S OURS!!!! the hard working American taxpayers!!

Absolutely!

Here's an update on this that appeared on WRAL 6:00 news tonight. Not appearing in the article is that they DID mention the 287g program during the telecast. Apparently, Senator Dole will be pushing for the program to receive more funding when the Senate goes back in session.

I wish WRAL had not watered the story down by mentioning that the Dems are having a hard time finding someone to run against Senator Dole. I wish they had stuck strictly with the immigration thing, although I agree that anyone would have a hard time beating her! Her record on illegal immigration is very good!


Dole, Sheriffs Discuss Immigration Enforcement


Posted: Today at 7:22 p.m.

In a rare appearance in Raleigh, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said Thursday that she hopes to help local law enforcement authorities get a better handle on immigration.

Dole met with authorities like Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison and Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell to discuss ways for officers to identify illegal aliens more quickly when suspects are detained on criminal charges.

"We'll hopefully be able to facilitate and really get some solutions to resolving the bureaucratic issues and red tape issues, as well as more funding," Dole said.

She said she plans to work on accelerating a federal program to provide training for local authorities and to share more federal immigration data with states, counties and cities.

"We need to know who is legal and who is illegal. We're after the ones committing the crimes in our counties," Harrison said.

"We have a problem with illegals that are committing crimes – murder, rape, robbery, driving drunk, you name the crime, it's occurring. Enough's enough," Bizzell said.

Dole and the sheriffs said there are no plans to step up efforts by local authorities to round up illegal immigrants, only to root out those suspected of committing crimes.

Meanwhile, Dole also attended a fundraiser in Raleigh Thursday night.

Although many Democrats have said her Senate seat is vulnerable in the 2008 election, most high-profile Democrats have declined to run against her. Gov. Mike Easley, Attorney General Roy Cooper and 13th District Congressman Brad Miller are among those who have passed on the election.

Democrats considered possible candidates against her include state Reps. Grier Martin and Dan Blue of Wake County – Blue ran for Senate five years ago – Guilford County Sen. Kay Hagan, State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee and Raleigh lawyer David Kirby, the former law partner of presidential candidate John Edwards.

Political analysts said a lot of money and political guts will be needed to compete with Dole.

"(It has to be) someone who is willing to sort of gamble on this, who doesn't have to have a win here, who can put up a brave fight and use that in the future to propel their political career," said Andrew Taylor, a political science professor at North Carolina State University.

Reporters: Ken Smith, Cullen Browder
Photographers: Greg Clark, Pete James
Web Editor: Matthew Burns
Copyright 2007 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



http://wral.com/news/local/politics/story/1736892/