ABC 7 Project Immigration: Taneytown Illegals
posted 5:50 pm Wed January 09, 2008 - from ABC 7 News -
Anchor:
ONE MARYLAND TOWN MAY TAKE A STRONG NEW STAND AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

TANEYTOWN'S LEADERS ARE LOOKING AT A RESOLUTION THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS "NO SANCTUARY" TO ILLEGALS.

GRETA KREUZ JOINS US WITH THE CONTROVERSY THE PLAN IS CAUSING.

Greta Kreuz:
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ISN'T JUST A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

NOW TANEYTOWN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ILLEGALS, BUT THOSE BEHIND THIS RESOLUTION SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT TILL IT IS A PROBLEM.

AND WHILE THE MEASURE IS MOSTLY SYMBOLIC, BUT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST IN MARYLAND.
Story:
THEY'RE PROUD IN TANEYTOWN AND MANY FOLKS IN THIS QUAINT LITTLE CITY NEAR THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER DON'T MINCE WORDS WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

"I don't believe they should be here, I don't think they should be given amnesty."

Teresa Fisher: "They come over here and it seems like they get everything handed to them, and then we're the ones that's suffering."

TRUTH IS, THERE ARE HARDLY ANY IMMIGRANTS IN TANEYTOWN, LEGAL 'OR' ILLEGAL.

BUT THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE.

A RESOLUTION STATING THE 'CITY OF TANEYTOWN IS 'NOT' A SANCTUARY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS,' AND THAT BECOMING SUCH "WOULD DEMEAN AND HARM CIVIC LIFE AND GOOD ORDER IN THIS CITY."

Councilman Paul Chamberlain, resolution sponsor: "If a clear message is sent to the illegals that they are not welcome in a town, they leave-or they don't bother showing up."

SUPPORTERS ARGUE ILLEGALS ARE A DRAIN ON HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS PAY FOR. THAT THEY STEAL JOBS AND COMMIT CRIMES.

BUT OTHERS SAY THIS RESOLUTION IS UNNECESSARY.

Leticia Zamora:"Very hard for me, yes, very sad for this resolution."

LETICIA ZAMORA, A COOK IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT, IS A U.S. CITIZEN FROM MEXICO. SHE FEARS A BACKLASH AGAINST ALL IMMIGRANTS-SAYING MOST ARE HONEST AND HARDWORKING:

Leticia Zamora: "Immigrants come into United States to work - not to steal or cause problems.

Mayor James McCarron: "We have a kind of an unofficial motto at Taneytown: "a small town with a big heart. This resolution speaks to the direct opposite of that."

Greta Kreuz:
THE COUNCIL ISN'T GOING TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION UNTIL NEXT MONDAY-BUT TONIGHT THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING ON IT, AND THEY'RE EXPECTING SO MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE MOVING IT FROM CITY HALL TO THE FIRE HOUSE.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0108/486547.html