Frankfort to address 'what is being done illegally'
By SOPHIA VORAVONG
svoravong@journalandcourier.com

FRANKFORT -- In a few weeks, community members will come together to discuss how to address problems of loud noise, multifamily dwellings and even motorists who park on the wrong side of the street.

The idea is to spur action that will encourage some who are being called Frankfort's undesirable citizens to leave.

"This isn't something that is only marked toward illegal immigrants," Mayor Don Stock said during a telephone interview this week. "What we're doing is looking at what is being done illegally and addressing those issues.

"If we can eliminate some of that, or at least lower it, we'll be marching toward being a better quality community."

Stock will be one of three mediators for a 15-member board recently formed to look at illegal immigration and quality of life issues in the Clinton County town 25 miles southeast of Lafayette.

The board was created after the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce sent letters in late September encouraging a crackdown on illegal immigration.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Clinton County has seen its Hispanic population increase by more than 70 percent -- from 2,478 residents in 2000 to an estimated 4,207 residents in 2006.

Stock said he was told during a meeting this week with representatives from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs that an estimated 600 Hispanics in Clinton County are undocumented workers.

"If you talk to the populace, they'd probably say that it's more," Stock said.

"I think the reason that this needs to be done, as far as dealing with illegal immigration, is that it allowed our community to kind of take a step backward in our appearance and the way we act in general."

Messages left for some members of the 15-member board were not immediately returned on Thursday and Friday.

Elizabeth Mallers, communications director for the state's community and rural affairs office, said that according to a 2004-05 report by the Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, Indiana has about 45,000 undocumented workers. That estimate came from data provided by the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Mallers said that number was believed to have increased by 2006.

She did not have information to comment on the number of undocumented workers in Clinton County.

Gina Sheets, chief executive officer of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce and economic development director, said she has gotten mostly positive feedback from the community regarding the letter's call for action on illegal immigrants.

She did receive one complaint from someone who pointed out that some of the chamber's members employ illegal workers.

Sheets said she is trying to learn more about a program called E-Verify, an Internet-based program that allows businesses to check whether job applicants have valid Social Security numbers via a contractual agreement.

She did not have a cost estimate or other details about the program, which according to its Web site was created under a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

"Why we started this is because what we were starting to hear and see ... was a community pulling apart," Sheets said. "It's important to stay together and focus here on one word: illegal."

Stock said the Frankfort Police Department is working to get information on how much it would cost to send officers to attend a 12-week training session on illegal immigration.

Officers would learn more about how to detect illegal documentation.

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Reader Comments:

Posted by: lafguy60 on Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:15 am

This is not an effort to target illegal immigrants but rather to target illegal activities and behaviors. It is likely that in this effort illegal immigrants may be discovered and that issue will need to be dealt with. I can tell you that there are plenty of whites that engage in illegal activities and behaviors - just drive down 26 East. Let's not make this thread into diatribes on a different issue.

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Posted by: El Tejon on Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:05 am

Corporations just need workers--legal or illegal.

The illegal status will be resolved by the North American Union in a few years and I bet my last Amero that corporations will be pushing it through just as they told Congress to look the other way on illegal immigration.

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Posted by: Ladystepside on Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:54 am

Good Luck Frankfort. I've never lived there, but have traveled thru this town alot and it seems like a nice town full of possibilities. I just wished Indiana would step up and do something about all the illegals AND all the illegal activities that go on. I live in a tiny town and I would have to say that it is 45% illegals now. Most are employed with Rose Acres and I don't think they care whether they are legit or not.

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Illegals in Frankfort Posted by: globob9 on Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:55 am

Wow, you just now noticing the illegals in Frankfort, I lived in Clarks Hill 10 years ago, and Frankfort was already over-ridden with them at that time.. Why did all the manufactureres hire the illegals for cheaper wages and act like they did not know? Now you have a problem just so you saved a few bucks in wages, All the other communitites better take heed also, it is getting just as bad in my neighborhood in Monticello....



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It's About Time! Posted by: hazeleyes on Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:26 am

If Frankfort could clean up all the mess there I just may move back. I remember how nice it used to be growing up there. Now, I wouldn't dream of letting my children grow up and go to school. It's said it has taken Mayor Stock this long to do this though. I hope they can clean up ALL the problems, not just the illegals but the gangs as well. Hopefully this will allow the school system to improve on their ISTEP Scores as well. It was very hard working at the school system knowing that these children couldn't get help from their teachers during the test. GOOD LUCK FRANKFORT!

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