SC: Clash over illegal immig at peace forum

[zeezil]

Advocates clash with opponents over illegal immigration at peace forum
By TIM DONNELLY
tdonnelly@islandpacket.com
843-706-8145
Published Thursday, September 11, 2008

Passions over illegal immigration flared at a forum Wednesday night at Palmetto Electric on Hilton head Island as a panel of Hispanic advocates railed againstimmigration laws they said created an atmosphere of fear and discrimination in Beaufort County.

Critics accused them of distorting the facts and glossing over the impact illegal workers have on local businesses.

The panel, organized by Hilton Head for Peace, included translators, journalists and a criminal attorney who said the county's recent crackdown on illegal immigrants that has led to increased arrests and deportations also is causing racial profiling.

Augustin Martinez, a translator involved in youth mentor programs, recounted a story of a woman who sought him out for help with her abusive boyfriend. She refused to report him to the police, he said.

"She told me, 'There isn't one Latino in Beaufort County who's going to call the police right now,'<2009>"Martinez said. "... Is this whatanted to accomplish?" he asked.

Many illegal immigrant opponents have praised the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for acting when the federal government failed to by training deputies to enforce federal immigration laws. The crackdown, called Operation Surge, allows deputies to check the immigration status of nearly anyone they stop. New county and state laws also put pressure on businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

But the policy is splitting up families and leading to racial profiling of anyone with dark skin, panel members said.

The panelists disputed what they said were myths about the Hispanic immigrant population: illegal immigrants are hurting the local economy; immigrants don't want to learn English; and that being an undocumented resident of the country qualifies a person as a criminal.

"To call an illegal alien criminal is kind of like calling Dr. Seuss a psychologist," Martinez said.

Opponents of illegal immigration criticized the panel. "The law is the law, and the law is what sets our country apart from foreign countries," said Ebba Gamer, a prominent Hilton Head critic of immigration.
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/ ... 07286.html

[miguelina]

But the policy is splitting up families and leading to racial profiling of anyone with dark skin, panel members said.

Yeah riiiight , I don't see us deporting people based on their skin color. Either you are here in accordance with the laws or in violation of the laws. THAT is the issue.

Illegal aliens make the choice to split their families, they can choose to bring their families back home with them. They choose separation, all for the love of money, so let's not sugarcoat it, eh sunshine?

WE DEMAND ENFORCEMENT NOW!!!