Illegal Immigration In Eastern Carolina
Part 1: Interview With An Illegal Immigrant
Posted: 5:08 PM Feb 4, 2008
Last Updated: 8:50 PM Feb 4, 2008
Reporter: Dave Jordan

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It is a staggering figure. 16,000 illegal immigrants cross the border from Mexico into the United States every week, according to the U.S. government.

There's no doubt, illegal immigration stirs passionate debate and is turning out to be a major issue in the presidential race, all the way down to local politics.

North Carolina is right in the middle of that debate.

The U.S. Census estimates 600,000 to 700,000 Hispanics are in North Carolina. It also says 300,000 to 400,000 are here illegally. Across the nation, there are an estimated 12-million illegal immigrants.

All this week WITN is investigating the impact of illegal immigration, beginning with the story of one illegal immigrant in eastern Carolina.

The illegal immigrant Dave Jordan interviewed didn't want to be identified but he did want to tell his story. It started eleven years ago when he spent six hours on an illegal journey from Mexico into the united states. He says it was the only way for him to come to America. "We don't really have any choice for that, we don't have money, you try to make papers in Mexico you need to have money in the bank and we don't have none of that stuff. You work a month in Mexico you make whatever you make a week here."

The individual Dave talked with also has a brother and two cousins here illegally. It's quite common in the neighborhood where they live, according to Anita Villeda who says, "Mostly everyone who lives out here are illegal."

Villeda is of Hispanic descent, but was born here in America and is a U.S. citizen. Her boyfriend however, the father of her three children, is illegal. "He came over here the hard way, passing the border and stuff like that, knowing the immigration could get him. His purpose for being here was trying to help out his family from Mexico."

While Villeda says she understands why people come to America illegally, she doesn't agree with it. And she thinks they should have to pay for healthcare, education and other services. She says, "If we have to do it, us Americans, why can't they?"

Many illegal immigrants contend they can, and do pay taxes. The I.R.S. and Social Security Administration say six-million illegal immigrants file income tax returns and pay social security taxes each year. How is that possible without a social security number? The I.R.S. issues tax identification numbers to undocumented workers, even though a federal law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. While the number doesn't give them legal status, it does open many doors. And for those who have it, gives a sense of legitimacy.

Third District Republican Congressman Walter Jones thinks the tax I.D. program sends the wrong message. Jones says, "Quite frankly I don't think that should be acceptable and I'm very concerned that it is acceptable."

Illegal immigrants believe the tax I.D. program is just part of the mixed signals the federal government has been sending for years, including not allowing enough visas for employers to legally hire foreign workers, only 66,000 per year for the entire country, to lenient enforcement. The illegal immigrant Dave interviewed even has a North Carolina driver's license. Until the law changed, all you needed was a birth certificate and two forms of I.D.

That driver's license, his job, and tax I.D. number have all helped the illegal immigrant we talked to by a new house, buy a vehicle, and have enough money to send back to Mexico every month. But he senses the backlash over illegal immigration...a system he and others know needs to be fixed...but aren't exactly sure how, and what it will all mean.

The illegal immigrant we interviewed says he doesn't know what the answer is. Anita Villeda says she is worried about it because she has three kids and wouldn't know what to do if her boyfriend got deported. Congressman Jones says, "There is no question this is a crisis."

Tuesday on WITN News at Six, as we continue our week long series looking at illegal immigration, we'll head to one town in eastern Carolina experiencing an explosion in the Hispanic population, both legal and illegal.
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