Thread: City embraces illegal immigration instead of fighting it

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/14579315.htm

Posted on Sun, May. 14, 2006

City embraces illegal immigration instead of fighting it


Associated Press

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - Schools send notes home to parents in English and Spanish, and banks offer loan programs that allow undocumented immigrants to finance cars and even buy houses.

At a time when some Ohio cities are struggling to deal with growing numbers of illegal immigrants, Painesville, a city of 17,000 people about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland, is trying to make it work.

Lake County, a largely white, politically conservative community, was among the first in the Midwest to endorse the matricula consular, a Mexican-government identity card. Police and businesses in Lake County now accept the card as proof of identity, which can help immigrants open bank accounts and arrange utility service.

"We realize there's probably a certain percentage of the population here that's undocumented," Painesville City Manager Rita McMahon said. "As long as it's not creating a problem, we really do not have the resources to be able to worry about it."

Lake County and nearby Ashtabula County have between 8,000 and 10,000 Mexican immigrants, and about half are probably here illegally, according to the Hispanic Organizations of Lake and Ashtabula, an immigrant advocacy group.

"There isn't that heavy emphasis on whether somebody is legal or not legal," said Veronica Dahlberg, the group's founder. "It's more, 'How can we make Painesville a better place?'"

In southwest Ohio's Butler County, some leaders want state legislation that would make it a state crime of trespass to be in Ohio illegally. Last month, Sheriff Rick Jones launched a $10,000 advertising campaign to warn employers who are hiring illegal immigrants that they are breaking federal law, and other county leaders want to require anyone who seeks a building permit to sign a pledge not to hire illegal immigrants.

A commissioner in nearby Warren County said he also supports the idea.

But in Painesville, the attitude on immigration is more don't ask, don't tell.

It's a tolerance rooted in the mutual interests of employers and immigrant workers. Lake County's largest employer, the nursery industry, has about 3,000 workers - most of them Mexican immigrants.

"That's very hard work and those folks are very good at it," Perry Township Administrator Walter Siegel said. "I know I don't want to do it."

Herman Losely & Son Inc., a Perry nursery, adds about 150 seasonal workers to a year-round staff of about 50, said owner Karl Losely.

The total work force is about 75 percent Hispanic.

Losely said he hires only those with valid documentation. Each year, he said, he rejects between three dozen and four dozen workers with obviously fake documents.

But Losely said he's probably been fooled on other occasions. "We're not document experts," he said.

Migrant field workers began arriving in the area 20 years ago but didn't establish roots in the community until the 1990s. There have been some problems.

A Mexican gang problem sparked a series of raids in the mid-1990s, in which dozens of undocumented workers were rounded up at home or at work and deported.

"It scared everybody," said Pascual Rodriguez who owns La Hispana, a Mexican-goods market in Painesville.

Despite any negative issues, most elected officials and business leaders agree the influx of Mexican immigrants has benefited the area.

Painesville City Councilman Andrew Flock said the immigrant workers have depressed wages and benefits in Lake County.

But he has also seen them scrimp and save to buy tired houses they repair and paint.

"Overall, they have been very positive for Painesville."

Rodriguez earned citizenship in 1986 when amnesty was offered.

He is a former nursery worker, a landlord with six properties in Painesville, and a father who dreams of sending his 11-year-old daughter to college.

"I feel very comfortable here" Rodriguez said.


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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com

I have a question.

after slavery was abolished, and before Illegals invaded our country,,,,WHO DID ALL THE WORK THAT THE ILLEGALS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW???
Someone please answer

Americans did !

The same ones who growing up now wont be given that chance. I feel so sorry for our kids. When they are old enough to buy a house the price will be out of reach to them. The illegals and their anchor babies will buy (on our backs) most of what our kids will need.

This will be a sad place. The future of our children and grand children is at stake. I cannot understand why every decent citizen is not more interested in savi ng that future...

"We realize there's probably a certain percentage of the population here that's undocumented," Painesville City Manager Rita McMahon said. "As long as it's not creating a problem, we really do not have the resources to be able to worry about it."

Not causing a problem yet, this town will get just what they deserve.

Originally Posted by pixeldoctor

Americans did !

...

That's what I thought.... so why does everyone talk about how hard they work? I am sick to death of hearing about how hard they work!
If the works that hard, they should go back home and do nothing!