Posted on Fri, Apr. 06, 2007
Effort aimed at illegals raises doubts
JEFFERSON GEORGE

Five months after Gaston County leaders backed the move, an effort to prevent illegal immigrants from benefiting from government programs still has some officials expressing doubts.

The resolution's sponsor, however, said there are ways to identify people living in Gaston illegally and prevent them from using services that should go to taxpayers.

Commissioners voted 5-1 on Nov. 9 to direct county officials to stop funding programs and services for illegal immigrants. It was the most aggressive action in the Charlotte region against people living in the U.S. illegally, with the resolution claiming they contribute to overcrowded schools, highway deaths and increased crime.

Soon after the vote, directors of several county departments said there were multiple obstacles to identifying the amount of services that go to illegal immigrants. Many programs and services are mandated by state or federal law, they said, and screening for those that aren't would cost time and money, possibly offsetting savings.

County Manager Jan Winters said he told commissioners at their February retreat that his staff couldn't come up with a dollar amount that could be saved by cutting services used by illegal immigrants.

"We're finding it to be very, very thorny." Winters said this week. "Each door we open leads to more questions."

John Torbett, the commissioner behind the resolution, said he recognizes that changes in some departments, such as health and social services, will depend on federal policy.

So he's focusing on areas where the county has more control, he said, such as law enforcement and housing occupancy.

http://charlotte.com/115/story/76586.html