Thread: Residents sending their opinions about immigration to Gov.

Harrisonburg, Va.
Posted: 11:39 PM Aug 14, 2008
Last Updated: 2:43 PM Aug 15, 2008
Reporter: Mary Pulley
Email Address: mpulley@whsv.com



Immigration Public Hearing




Residents in the Valley are sending their opinions about immigration straight to Gov. Tim Kaine.

Kaine'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 Sen. John Watkins, the chairman of 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 Schools Superintendent.

People also discussed the fairness of law enforcement policies, which some say perpetuate criminal stereotypes about some immigrants and may deport 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.

People also chimed in on the influence immigrants have on the economy.

"There's a gap in this country of about 20-million workers that we don't have. So what is happening is the economics of that is driving people to come here," says 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.

The commission will use the comments as part of a report of recommendations they will submit to Kaine and the General Assembly.

If you missed Thursday's meeting, there will be another public hearing in Richmond September 23.

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

"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 Schools Superintendent.

Key word CITIZENS. Illegal aliens are neither citizens nor immigrants, they are criminals. They must be deported.