Southern NM residents tell congressmen they are concerned about illegal immigration

By Adriana Gómez Licón / El Paso Times
Posted: 02/01/2011 04:36:24 PM MST

Residents and ranchers of Southern New Mexico expressed their discontent with illegal immigration in front of four U.S. representatives today.

The four congressmen - Steve Pearce, R-N.M., Phil Gringey, R-Ga., Steve King, R-Iowa and Ed Royce, R-Calif. - visited the New Mexico border today to learn firsthand the state of border security from the perception of people living and working in the area.

But residents did not talk much about border security. Instead, the general feeling at the public hearing was that more and more undocumented immigrants are entering the United States and wasting public funds without paying taxes.

Only a few residents brought up concerns of attacks coming from drug cartels controlling the corridor and offered ideas they think will better protect the border.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17262012