Thread: Other counties waiting on Cherokee immigration moves

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... rokee.html

Other counties waiting on Cherokee immigration moves

By SHELIA M. POOLE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/13/06
Cherokee County officials may find themselves out on a legal limb — alone.

Although officials in other Georgia cities and counties are closely monitoring the recent move by the Cherokee commission to address illegal immigration, few may follow in Cherokee's footsteps — at least not right away.

"I know just about every county in Georgia has the same problem Cherokee has been having with illegal immigrants," said O.D. Netter, president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. "But I think most people will wait and see what the federal government will do."

Local leaders also want to see what the courts have to say about ordinances that have been passed in Cherokee and other local jurisdictions around the country. The Cherokee commission passed ordinances last week declaring English the county's official language and targeting landlords who rent to illegal immigrants in unincorporated Cherokee.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund,and possibly others, are expected to mount a legal challenge to the Cherokee ordinances, as they have in other locales.

Of the state's 159 counties, Netter expects "maybe four or five will come up with some type of ordinance" addressing illegal immigration. He said he's heard little get-tough talk from residents in Ben Hill County, where he is a county commissioner. But he said commissioners in other counties are responding to their constituents. "You have to support the people in your county who support you and who vote for you," he said.

That's what officials in Cobb County say they did.

In October, the county's commissioners unanimously endorsed the sheriff's application to join a federal program that would provide faster identification of illegal immigrants charged with a crime and the means to initiate deportation proceedings. Col. Don Bartlett, of the sheriff's office, said initial approval has been granted.

The county also recently began using an improved system of checking the immigration status of new employees and is in the process of taking steps to require that companies doing business with Cobb County do the same. That gives the county a head start on a state law requiring such checks beginning July 1.

Illegal immigration has been a hot-button issue in Georgia, which has one of the fastest-growing illegal immigrant populations in the nation. Earlier this year, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB 529). The sweeping law requires, among other things, that government contractors verify the legal status of their workers and government agencies verify the legal status of any adult applying for many taxpayer-provided benefits.

And more legislation may be on the way. State Rep. Timothy Bearden (R-Villa Rica) filed legislation last week that would require Georgia — and all its cities and counties — to issue official forms in English only. Greg Tarbutton, chairman of the Coweta County Commission, saidhe favors requiringcompanies doing business with the county to verify that their employees are in the United States legally, as will be required under the new state law. He also would like to see landlords rent to legal residents only, but he stopped short of saying it should be a county ordinance. Coweta County's foreign-born population rose 4.9 percent between 1990 and 2005, according to census figures.

"We don't want to create the idea that Coweta County is hostile to folks who are from somewhere else," he said. "But we want the same rules for everyone."

And in Whitfield County, Commission Chairman Brian Anderson said there are no plans to pass ordinances similar to Cherokee's, "although we have certainly been watching it."

Anderson said he thinks the effort to deal with illegal immigration should be handled at the federal and state levels before county and local officials step in.

"We think they need to take immediate and appropriate action concerning illegal immigration," he said. "Local governments are bearing the extreme costs."

There's no need for Cherokee-type ordinances in Paulding County, said Commission Chairman Jerry Shearin. The illegal immigrant population is not large, and there aren't a lot of rental units. "We'll let other counties use their taxpayers' dollars to fight that in court," he said.

Such costs can be expected, said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "Jumping on the anti-immigration bandwagon really does not accomplish much," Gonzalez said. Other county commissions may be considering similar measures, but "I think it would be foolish on their part — both regarding their time and resources."

And he warned Georgia business owners to take heed. "The business community should be paying attention and be nervous," he said. "It starts with landlords as small-business owners. Who's going to be next?"

...Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "Jumping on the anti-immigration bandwagon really does not accomplish much," Gonzalez said. Other county commissions may be considering similar measures, but "I think it would be foolish on their part — both regarding their time and resources."

What are you accomplishing by jumping on the illegal alien band waggon? I think it's very foolish to support criminals. What are they doing positive for me? Nothing. Also, they are gobbling up a lot of other county and city resources and the comissioners have the ability to put a stop to it. I think that is time and effort well spent because the over all benefits and saved resources county wide. That's a no-brainer.

Dixie