Thread: AL-Commissioners Target "Illegal Aliens"

Commissioners Target "Illegal Aliens"

Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009 @06:14pm CST

"Certainly, I think it's a good thing. I don't think any bad thing could come out of this."

Commissioner Paul Lee is talking about immigration training for Dothan Police Officers. But Lee -- who is up for reelection next month -- also wants to bring attention to other immigration issues.

"We have many people that are here, that are looking for jobs. And we want to make sure that those that are here are legal, those that are above board and should be here are the ones that have the opporunity to work."

Lee is taking his cues from a recently passed Decatur law. He doesn't want undocumented immigrants to work for the city or the city to contract work to immigrants.

"It's pretty much already in law, but we want to reconfirm and make sure this is our policy and this is what we expect."

"I concur, I think this is the direction the city needs to go. I've looked at it as well over the past week."

Taylor Barbaree -- also fighting to keep his job -- agreed with Lee.

Their attitudes are coming as the city asks for new immigrations and customs enforcement -- or ICE -- training. It prepares officers for foreign-born criminals and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security.

A letter was sent to the New Orleans field office last year, and the city is waiting for a response. According to Police Chief John Powell -- just two other state agencies have ICE training.

"I am a real big believer in preventing things from happening, and it will cost you less money if you wait, and a lot of less headache if you can move forward and prevent it from happening in the future."

Latino advocate Rich Lopez says there are no undocumented immigrants working for the city. He called the commissioners' attitudes malicious and said Lee has not accurately polled his constituents.

http://dothanfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=66982

E-Verify everyone and see who is on the losing side.