http://www.kthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=18842

The Illegal Immigration Debate Is Still A Hot Topic

The topic of illegal immigrants reaches deep and wide into American society. And it is definitely dividing people on what to do here in Arkansas.

“I think the biggest concern was for the kids,� says Rod Contreras. He's talking about the thirty or so kids left behind because their parents were arrested in a raid by Immigration and Customs at the Petit Jean Poultry plant in Arkadelphia.

Contreras says, “No families here, everybody gone. It really makes you realize how blessed you are to have your parents and family with you.� Contreras says he was so moved by the situation, he needed to do something to help them. “I'm sure they need financial backing there, but I think the biggest thing is, is to reassure them that somebody will take care of them and somebody is going to be behind them,� says Contreras.

Since the raid, a doctor caring for the kids says he treated a pregnant woman who had already come back from Mexico to be with her husband and two small children. U.S. Senator Mark Pryor says the Arkadelphia raid will be a case-study when Congress takes up immigration legislation this fall. And then there's Governor Huckabee who says Immigration and Customs hasn't returned his repeated calls to talk about the tactics used during the raid. “What crime is it that is worthy of that?" the Governor asked. "Should we deport people who are here illegally? Sure, that's not the issue. The issue is whether you should treat their children with some level of respect and compassion because they need their mothers and fathers.�

But there are folks on the other side of the border on this issue. William Gheen is the spokesman for Americans for Legal Immigration. He says “We have plenty of social services and systems that are tax payer benefited to address children. And ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has dealt wit these situations and they have provisions for the children. Governor Huckabee, unfortunately, is known nationally as being an illegal immigration best friend.�

As for Contreras, he says it isn't politics he's dealing with, it's the welfare of children. And as far as he's concerned that's all that matters.

So far all the kids left behind are in good hands. They are either living with relatives or have gone or are either living with relatives or have gone back to their home country with their parents.

Todd Wilson, Reporter
Created: 8/18/2005 8:35:02 PM
Updated: 8/18/2005 10:40:53 PM