Mayor: Aggressive approach needed to fight illegal immigration
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIRO
mshapiro@islandpacket.com
Published Monday, August 4, 2008


An aggressive approach to illegal immigration can help stem crime and reduce the strain on government services, the mayor of a Pennsylvania city told a gathering of the Beaufort County Republican Club today.

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, one of the most well-known figures in the country’s anti-illegal immigration movement, told about 60 attendees at the luncheon how he became involved in politics and how his city became embroiled in a controversial national debate over illegal immigration.

He said it started with a series of grisly crimes committed by illegal immigrants and an uptick in gang and drug activity in his city.

“I knew I had to do something,â€