Thread: Roanoke, VA: Panel wants people's opinions about immigration

Panel wants people's opinions about immigration
The state commission wants to determine if immigrants are a burden on public services.
By Rob Johnson
981-3234
June 16, 2008

When the Virginia Commission on Immigration meets Tuesday in Roanoke City Council chambers, there's one opinion the panel's chairman doesn't want to hear voiced. His own.

"I don't want to inject my opinion into this. We're trying to get the thoughts of the public," said Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan.

The commission is trying to determine if immigrants, both legal and illegal, are burdening such public services as education and law enforcement. Immigrants' impact on the economy is also under scrutiny.

Comments from the public are invited -- limited to three minutes per speaker. Those wishing to speak can sign up at the city council chambers 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The hearing is scheduled to last until 8:30 p.m. Comments may also by sent in advance by e-mail to immigration.commission@governor.virginia.gov.

The commission is an advisory board made up of 10 legislators and 10 members appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine. The public hearing on Tuesday is the only one scheduled for Western Virginia. Others will be held in Norfolk, Harrisonburg and Richmond.

Immigration's effects on public services has been a hot topic in Northern Virginia, where immigrants are a larger presence than in the Roanoke and New River valleys. In May, John Brownlee, the former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said he plans to run as a Republican for attorney general in 2009, and make illegal immigration a part of his platform.

And in 2007, Bedford County officials expressed concern about the strain that illegal immigrants could put on county services.

But even if the commission does tap into public outcry over the effects of immigration, its powers to react are limited, Watkins said. "There's very little we can do with state legislation. If change is needed, it will usually come from the federal government. We can make recommendations to our friends at the federal level."

Further, Watkins said, the public should have a say in whether certain strategies are worth their expense. For example, he said, "We can enforce the law and arrest anyone without appropriate identification. But I think we have to ask ourselves, What is the cost of that? Are we willing to utilize tax dollars or increase taxes to enforce immigration laws?"

Besides, Watkins reasoned, once an illegal immigrant is arrested, the state's expenses on that case may only be starting.

"We can hold them, but we don't have the authority to deport them."

http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/165938

Call ice to come and get the illegals.

ICE needs to be busier than bees on honey when it comes to illegals. A bus driving through a state to state is least expensive way. On a daily basis buses should transport to ICE detention centers. This is the least our government should do. The federal government should have a bus program in effective, now. Detention center should be within 6 hours drive time per state.

Why are the federal marshals not used more when it comes to illegal? Should they transport from one prison to a detention ICE center? And all the base closings, could the military secure illegals there until ICE did the checking if detention and jails center get too crowded.

Employers and property owners must be held to account for the illegals that are here.

Immigration Public Hearing

Posted: 11:39 PM Aug 14, 2008
Last Updated: 11:39 PM Aug 14, 2008
Reporter: Mary Pulley

Residents in the valley are sending their opinions about immigration, straight to governor Tim Kaine.
The governor's commission on immigration held a meeting wednesday night in Harrisonburg to get feedback.
It's part of a series of meetings the commission is holding in order to study immigration, in hopes of improving state policies.
On one side of the room, there were concerned residents.
On the other side, a panel gathering information they hope will help them tackle some difficult issues.
"This commission was put together to look at both the benefits and the cost associated with immigration." says state senator John Watkins who is also the chairman of governor Kaine's immigration commission.
There were a number of concerns from the crowd including fair health care and education for immigrants.
"As a community, state, and nation, we prosper best when our children, all of our children receive a quality education, and that translates into informed productive citizens," says Dr. Don Ford, Harrisonburg public school superintendent.
Folks also discussed the fairness of law enforcement policies, which some say perpetuate criminal stereotypes about some immigrants, and deports them unfairly.
"A lot of us in general feel that immigrants are being categorized in misleading concepts, that just because they are foreigner are being called terrorists or illegal sometimes,"says Sylvia Whitney-Beitzel, with the Hispanic Services Council.
Folks also chimed in on the influence immigrants have on the economy.
"There's a gap in this country of about 20-mllion workers that we don't have so what is happening is the economics of that is driving people to come here," says state senator John Watkins.
"Among the losers are tax payers that must subsidize the cost of immigrants. One reason is that immigrants receive public assistance at a much higher rate than the native borns," says John Vinson, an editor for Americans For Immigration Control.
Now the commission will use the comments as part of a report of recommendations they will submit to governor Kaine and the general assembly.
If you missed tonight's meeting, there will be another public hearing in Richmond on the 23-rd of September, or you can click on the "hot button" to contact the commission directly.

http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/27004524.html