Thread: Georgia Legislators will go to Border

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... order.html

Illegal immigration has legislators off to border

By SHELIA M. POOLE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 12/02/06

Four Georgia legislators are heading to the border to get a firsthand look at the fight against illegal immigration.

State Reps. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville), Martin Scott (R-Rossville) and state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) will leave Monday for a 2 1/2-day trip to the Cochise County, Ariz., area along the U.S.-Mexican border, according to a news release from Graves' office.

"We see this as an educational tour," Graves said in an interview. This will be his first trip to the border. "Illegal immigration is the number one issue facing Georgia. We wanted to spend some time at the border and see what resources the federal government was using to try to stop it."

Georgia has one of the nation's fastest-growing illegal immigrant populations. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an estimated 470,000 illegal immigrants live in the state.

Graves said no taxpayer money is being used for the trip. Joining the lawmakers will be D.A. King, a Cobb County resident and president of the Dustin Inman Society, an anti-illegal immigration group. King has been to Cochise County several times.

While there, the lawmakers plan to talk to residents, ranchers, retired and current border patrol agents and members of the Minutemen, who are conducting civilian patrols of part of the broad southern border. Arizona is considered one of the major entry points for illegal immigrants coming from Mexico.

"We've heard the reports of just how vast an area it is and how difficult it is to control," said Loudermilk, who backed the recent passage of Senate Bill 529, the state's crackdown on illegal immigration. "We want to see what's going on firsthand."

While the border trip is being called a fact-finding mission, Loudermilk doesn't rule out the possibility that the trip will lead to additional legislative proposals regarding illegal immigration.

Scott said he wanted to thank the Minutemen for helping patrol the border "and ask them if there is anything I can do to help out."

Rogers could not be reached for comment.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, considered the trip a waste of time.

"Anything the state of Georgia does will not impact what happens on the U.S.-Mexican border," he said.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, considered the trip a waste of time.

Gee ... maybe they need a Georgia Association of Non-Latino Elected Officials, eh? After all we stand for EQUALITY in the United States.

Hope we hear their responses from their trip. They ought to see firsthand how our fed government hasn't/isn't protecting our border except here and there as a matter of show.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, considered the trip a waste of time.

Check out the GALEO website...

http://www.galeo.org/board_directors.php

GALEO Executive Board of Directors (December 2004)

* Chairman: Sen. Sam Zamarripa (SD-36), Co-Chair
(didn't run for re-election in 2006)
* Vice Chair: Rep. Pedro Marin (HD-66), Co-Chair
* Vice Chair: Evelyn "Mimi" Woodson, Columbus City Council
* Treasurer: Judge Tony Del Campo, DeKalb County State Court
* Secretary: Jason Anavitarte, Doraville City Council

GALEO Board Members At Large:

* David Rodriguez, Lawrenceville City Council
* Luis Aguilar, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
* Rudy Beserra, The Coca-Cola Company
* Dax Lopez, Holland & Knight LLP

So they've got a total of 5 'Elected officials', 2 lawyers and Coke (multiple 'flavors', I'll bet)

Unbelievable.

Another not for profit POLITICAL fraud.

"Anything the state of Georgia does will not impact what happens on the U.S.-Mexican border," he said.

Oh you never know, Jerry. Some good could come of the trip.

Originally Posted by had_enuf

[quote:3pvo5uho]"Anything the state of Georgia does will not impact what happens on the U.S.-Mexican border," he said.

Oh you never know, Jerry. Some good could come of the trip.

[/quote:3pvo5uho]

I think ole Jerry may be in for a surprise, eh?