Thread: Huntsville, AL: Illegal in the Valley

Illegal in the Valley

State leaders, Hispanic advocates and the federal agency in charge of enforcing immigration laws weigh in on the immigration debate.

They have their own take on how illegal immigration is handled and should be handled here.

Waff 48 News Investigator Susie Edwards learned that the ultimate answers in this debate will be battled out hundreds of miles away and not anytime soon.

Rosa Toussaint-Ortiz is an advocate for immigrants. She said, "once they (illegal immigrants) are here we cannot pretend they are not."

Ortiz contends that it's unnecessary to deport all illegal immigrants in north Alabama.

She says most illegal immigrants risk their lives to flee here because they have starving children and need a job to support their families.

Ortiz said, "when you make a decision to pay that money to cross the desert it's because you are desperate."

Ortiz said the vast majority of immigrants ,legal and illegal, have no ill intent.

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency confirms it and said that only small groups of illegal immigrants are violent.

The agency cites limited manpower and following the laws that are currently on the books in prioritizing who gets deported and who doesn't.

Rex Reynolds, Director of Public Safety in Huntsville, said even with the authority--it's impossible locally to take action based on illegal status alone.

"Reporter: Is it fair to say it's an issue of money and manpower? Reynolds: Well it is. Money, manpower, everything is, across the board."

No money, no manpower, no jail space. There aren't enough beds in Madison County--not for those serving jail time for crimes--and not for those walking while illegal.

Renolds adds, "if the answer is, 'if you're illegal you'll be deported,' then I'd hope the federal government would come in and subsidize my budget."

But the federal government is in a gridlock over immigration.

So Alabama Senator Arthur Orr said he's looking for ways the state can control the influx of an illegal population.

He wants anyone driving without a license jailed and contractors penalized if they hire illegal immigrants. He says similar bills were introduced last session but failed.

Orr points to strong measures taken in Oklahoma as a guide for Alabama.

"I have sympathy with them for the situation of the people in poverty but let's get this straight. They are here illegally and there are millions of people around this globe waiting to come into this country legally."

Ortiz calls for compassion and education for a population that is already here, and likely here to stay.

"Legal or illegal. We should educate them, welcome them and let them know how things are done here but we also need to educate those who are already here."

http://www.waff.com/global/story.asp?s= ... =Printable

LOL....I agree with Ortiz!! We should educate the illegals on how it's done here!!

Lesson #1: If you come here without permission,you are here ILLEGALLY and entitled to nothing but deportation.

Now, that's educating them............

Would Ms. Ortiz feel the same way if it was the illegals country being overrun and destroyed by Americans?I have a feeling she would sing a much different tune.She says the people who come here are desparate because of starving children back home.yeah right.Is that why they have more when they come here?
She does say something telling though-that most are here to stay.Says alot.
If most are here to stay,what about their poor children left behind?
People like Ms.Ortiz are jokes and we need to deport all of them,not just the violent ones.