Thread: Alabama counties eye immigration

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=4264861&nav=0hBE

Keeping an eye on immigration
Dec 20, 2005, 10:11 AM EST

Turning a watchful eye toward immigration, Valley leaders are looking for ways to enforce laws locally. The issue is grabbing attention statewide.

The next session of the Alabama State Legislature kicks off January 10th. Already up for discussion -- two bills that propose to deal with a situation Madison County is starting to address.

The Madison County Commission vows to look for ways to handle the growing population of immigrants in North Alabama illegally, an issue that recently stumbled into the limelight with a series of high-profile cases. The commission formed a separate group to research the situation and over the next several months, they'll discuss the issue at length, hoping to find some answers to a list of gnawing questions.

"The first thing we want to do is identify: What is the real problem?" Mike Gillespie of the Madison County Commission explains.

"How significant is this problem and then what action if any we as a local community can take or what kind of pressure we need to put on the federal government?

The Madison County Commission set a deadline on the discussion.

It will release its recommendations no later than March 1st.

GO MADISON COUNTY!!!