6:55pm | June 1, 2010


Tea Party Hosts Town Hall Immigration Meeting
Organizers Plan To Answer Immigration Questions
By Renee Starzyk

POSTED: 5:34 pm EDT June 1, 2010
UPDATED: 6:31 pm EDT June 1, 2010

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. -- Members of the tea party in Fayette and Coweta counties expect a standing-room-only crowd at a town hall meeting Tuesday night on the controversial immigration issue.

"They're bankrupting our cities, our hospitals, our school system, and our jails," said Jim Richter, of the Fayette-Coweta 9-12 Project, a local tea party group.

Richter said that Georgia's population of illegal immigrants grew 123 percent from 2000 to 2006, more than any other state in the country.

"Our problem is absolutely serious," said Richter.

Tea party members have invited Rep. Lynn Westmoreland to attend Tuesday's town hall meeting.

"I think it's an opportunity for them to hear directly from a representative from the federal government and to ask questions," said Robert Ross, a Fayette County tea party member. "An expert can clear the air."

There has been growing debate about immigration since the arrest of Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl.

Police arrested her on a traffic violation, then sent her to jail when they discovered she did not have a valid driver's license and was here illegally.

Colotl will be allowed to stay in the U.S. for one year, while she finishes her schooling.

Many tea party members say they are sympathetic to Colotl, but the law is the law.

"We are doing nothing about sending those people back and saving ourselves $338 billion a year," said Richter. "That's insane. When is the madness going to stop?"

Tuesday's town hall meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m.at the Whitewater Neighborhood Club House, 165 Birkdale Drive, Fayetteville.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/23759979/detail.html