Thread: FL: Leaders to debate immigration

Leaders to debate immigration
State, local officials to probe issue's depth at New College forum
By MAURA POSSLEY
Feb 28, 2007

The nation's dilemma over illegal immigration will be brought into focus this weekend as state and local leaders debate the issue.

Their views on the issue, debated but ultimately dropped by Congress this year, will be aired at "The Challenge of Our Nation: Immigration," a forum from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sudakoff Auditorium of New College in Sarasota.

"So much of the debate that's going on is a cheap little shot on TV and sound bites," said David W. Caulkett, vice president for Floridians for Immigration Enforcement. "It's about time we got to this point where we discuss the real nuts and bolts of this thing."

Caulkett will speak Saturday along with state Reps. Juan Zapata, R-Miami, and Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota; Wade Matthews, vice president of Floridians for a Sustainable Population; and Jim Delgado, Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce member.

"The more you start sorting through the complexities of it, the more complex it gets," Fitzgerald said. "A lot of people are very frustrated with the situation."

The debate will delve into the depth of issues that immigration policy touches, including the economy, population and education.

Fitzgerald said he will speak on the history of immigration, having researched and written on the issue as a college professor.

It will provide perspective, he said, that the country has been here before on the same issue.

"The United States set it up to work this way, and that's just the historical truth," Fitzgerald said. "We're responsible for this problem first and foremost. It's up to us to fix it."

Caulkett's Hialeah-based organization believes in self-deportation of undocumented workers.

"Our country is being invaded, and our politicians do not have the will to enforce the law," he said. "It hasn't been enforced for decades now."

Caulkett said he plans to detail the group's view that by enforcing laws in place, a substantial wave of self-deportation would result.

"When will the government have the will to enforce the law that's already on the books?" he said. "That's how we define the problem."

Included in the debate will be the DREAM Act, which would allow certain students conditional immigration status and therefore in-state college tuition.

It is a measure opposed by Caulkett's group. But advocates say it is unfair to target students brought here illegally by their parents.

"I don't think it makes a lot of sense to invest 12 years of education in a kid and make it impossible for them to continue their education," Fitzgerald said. "I don't think it's a smart investment."

Debate aside, both sides of the issue are at a stalemate without a willingness by Congressional leaders to act, they said.

Without federal action, Fitzgerald said, "you can deal with some of the consequences but you can't really deal with the problem itself."

http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/236631.html

Until we get someone in the presidency that doesn't want the NAU we will never enforce our immigration laws.

Mr. Fitzgerald it is not an investment for us it is really more of a ripoff of the American people. We do not need to have more years per student of the same misfortune.