Georgetown Votes For New Legal Immigration Work Proposal

Updated: Dec 19, 2007 10:30 PM PST

The City of Georgetown is taking new steps to crack down on illegal immigration.

The council voted unanimously to have staff write a proposal for a new city ordinance that would require contractors to prove their employees are in this country legally.

That's how Georgetown council member Keith Brainard came up with the idea to create an ordinance ensuring anyone working for the city in any manner, including sub-contracted, is a legal immigrant.

"People are tired of illegal immigration," Brainard said. "They would like this country to police its borders."

While some in Georgetown agree, some like Guadalupe Rodriguez don't.

"When they come here they are willing to do anything, just as long as they can make enough money to support their families," Rodriguez said.

She said one reason the council may support the idea is because there is no one on the council who looks like her.

CARLA "are they of different ethnicities? keith I'm sorry

"We have five men and two women," Brainard said. "I don't really think in terms of people ethnicity. As far as I can tell, they are all caucasion."

"It's just very hard, I guess, for a different kind of race to get on the board," Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, Brainard said the issue is not about race.

"If you are in this country legally than you won't have a problem with this proposal," Brainard said. "It really boils down to that. It really gets down to the issue of whether or not the City of Georgetown is going to support and encourage illegal immigration, or not support illegal immigration."

Georgetown staff members are preparing the proposal for the city council to consider at their next meeting on Jan. 8.

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