Thread: Myrick, Sheriff Lobby For Immigration Court In Charlotte

http://www.wral.com/apncnews/9528389/detail.html

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rep. Sue Myrick and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph on Monday unveiled a campaign to lobby for a Charlotte-based federal immigration court they believe would help manage the cases of the hundreds of thousands of people living in North Carolina illegally.

The state has the nation's eighth-highest estimated population of illegal immigrants _ between 300,000 and 600,000, according to Myrick _ but 16 states with lower estimated populations have immigration courts. All of North Carolina's immigration cases are handled in Atlanta.

The Justice Department is set to receive congressional funding this fall to open three new immigration courts, Myrick said. It is important, she said, that one be in North Carolina.

"If these statistics don't prove we need an immigration court, I don't know what does," Myrick, R-N.C., said before she and Pendergraph became the first people to sign a petition asking for the new court.

"Oftentimes it's the ones who march up and down the streets that get the attention," Pendergraph said, referring to high-profile protest marches and rallies staged by immigrants and their supporters since Congress began debating tighter border security and immigration reform this spring. "Probably 90 percent of your average citizens are watching TV at home and has no say."

Myrick has been particularly active in her crusade for immigration reform since the July 16, 2005, drunken driving accident in coastal Brunswick County that killed constituent Scott Gardner of Mount Holly and severely injured his wife Tina. The couple's young children suffered minor injuries.

The driver whose truck collided with the Gardners' station wagon, Ramiro Gallegos, had been returned to Mexico twice since 2000 and had four previous DWI convictions.

"I think it brought it (the illegal immigration issue) very much close to home for all of us in the region," Myrick said. "The unfortunate part is it destroyed that whole family's future."

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will decide where to put the new immigration courts, and Myrick said she is optimistic that Charlotte will get one. The government has estimated the annual cost of operating the court, with a judge and various support personnel, at $383,000, she said.

Pendergraph said he understands federal officials are also negotiating to open a detention center in the region that would serve the court.

Having the nearest immigration court in Atlanta makes it difficult for many illegal immigrants to show up for court dates, Pendergraph said. That results in failure-to-appear citations and immigrants being tagged as fugitives. Having the court in Charlotte would eliminate some of that problem, he said.

Myrick said she believes the House and Senate are making progress toward a compromise immigration reform bill. Recent comments by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., showed a willingness by the Senate to commit to tougher border security. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has said he will negotiate some type of guest worker program.

The sides remain at odds on whether there should be a path to citizenship for some or all people now in the country illegally.

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On the Net:

Online version of immigration court petition: http://www.myrick.house.gov/actionplan_ ... tition.htm

Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/MCSO/Home.htm

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., showed a willingness by the Senate to commit to tougher border security. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has said he will negotiate some type of guest worker program.

And how did Senator Specter demonstrate his willingness, by voting not to fund fencing at the border? Anybody know if Hastert is going weak in the knees?

I smell Pence Shamnesty.

I believe Hastert is a serious weak link!

I also think he's met privately with the pres &/or others. He's always been a limp bisquit and easily swayed. CAFTA anyone? That was Hastert who caved!! We had them against the wall on it but he backed down in the dead of night.

I also believe his brother/family is involved with business that will benefit from open borders. Maybe it was the NASCO thing, just not sure.

BTTT

Added to the homepage with a link added to our Volunteer Focus Effort in NC.

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Volunteer Effort
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