Immigration hearing draws heated discussion

Published: Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 10:08 pm


By Julie Howle
STAFF WRITER
jhowle@greenvillenews.com


Residents from around the state heatedly debated illegal immigration tonight at a public hearing in Pendleton.

More than 100 residents aired their opinions to a panel of state senators as part of an effort by the Senate to study illegal immigration reform.

It was the third public hearing where senators sought residents’ input.

Spartanburg resident Roland Pittman was met with a burst of applause as he spoke about how illegal immigration depresses wages for those who are here legally.
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"What right does an illegal alien have to be in this country?" Pittman asked. "We want to stop all illegal aliens."

Johnny Baker, pastor of Abundant Life Church in Greenville, said the country needs many of the people who are being force to leave because of fear. "One of the things I think we need to realize in all of this is that every so-called illegal alien has a name, they have a face, and they have a story," he said.

Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, chairman of the Illegal Immigration Reform Study Committee, said a bill on illegal immigration has been passed by the state Senate and sent to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill, if passed, would require state and local governments to contract with businesses that employ a verified lawful work force and would require state and local agencies to verify the citizenship status of applicants seeking public benefits.

It would also create a state felony to harbor or transport illegal aliens and encourage specialized training of law enforcement officers.

"This is the No. 1 issue on the minds of voters. I want to make sure that we are listening to their needs and responding appropriately," Ritchie said.

Mark Thies, a professor at Clemson University, said the bill would be a good first start and that he wished it did more. "What this bill is doing is it is stopping taxpayer dollars from being used to hire illegal aliens," Thies said.

He said it isn’t an issue about race. "This is an issue about the rule of law," Thies said.

Candy Kern-Fuller, an Anderson County business owner and resident, said the bill would require businesses to use a flawed system and said the law is pre-empted by federal law. "We’re going to have to fight this in federal court," she said, adding that state taxpayers would foot the bill.

"I urge you please not to pass this," Kern-Fuller said.

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