NC Senate President Marc Basnight takes up for illegal aliens!

Immigration Battle Rages in Raleigh By Gerrick Brenner
(07/11/06 -- RALEIGH) - State lawmakers are looking at controversial bills that would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to work and live in North Carolina.

The law says that employers cannot hire illegal immigrants, but most employers, including the state and public schools, are not required to verify a new employee's legal immigration status.
"If an illegal alien can't get a job, he's going to go home," said Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow. "Or he's going to go to a different state."

Since May, Cleveland has been pushing a bill to force state government and school systems to verify new employee's legal status. Democrats in the House stalled the bill again on Tuesday.

Republicans have offered several bills addressing illegal immigration issues this session, and Democrats have not allowed full votes on any, so far.

"They don't want to curb illegal immigration," said Sen. Robert Pittenger, R-Mecklenburg. "That's what they're saying essentially by keeping these bills in Rules Committee."

Pittenger wants all employees with government contracts to verify employees' legal status. But the Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, who controls which bills are heard, says that immigration is solely a federal issue.

"I think the United States Congress should get off their duff and go to work tomorrow morning to create a system of allowing a worker that we need in America," Basnight said.
Even if the immigration bills do not pass, the issue is not going away. Republicans promise to make illegal immigration and General Assembly inaction a big campaign issue before November's elections.

"I will use it as an election issue in my area, definitely," Cleveland said. "I should think it should be used throughout the state."

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