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Saturday, June 7, 2008
Illegal immigration on the campaign trail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Local politicians have a surefire way to draw media attention, brand themselves and acquire cachet on the campaign trail.
Just utter two words: Illegal immigration.
They pronounce their strong opposition to it. They say they deplore it and lament how illegal immigrants have ruined - or are ruining - this stellar county and its towns. They add a few hot-button topics like declining property values, crime and packed schools.
Then maybe, just maybe, they toss out an idea to curb the tide. Or they pledge, if elected, to work diligently to do something, anything, to stop the decline and decay.
Often, a concerned citizenry and voting public hang on every word. It doesn’t matter who the politico is, what his or her track record shows or, most importantly, how impractical or farcical their proposals appear. It’s a can’t-lose platform.
Last week, the AJC Gwinnett News ran an article about how illegal immigration is a major focus in some county commission campaigns.
Commissioner Lorraine Green is challenging incumbent Charles Bannister for the county chairman’s post. Her campaign issued a statement that called on Bannister to “end his continual roadblocks to the implementation of the 287(g) illegal immigration enforcement program” or “place these decisions in someone else’s hands.”
Green referred to a federal act that allows local law enforcement authorities to determine whether inmates are here legally, regardless of the offense they are picked up for, and to refer them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation.
The county has ponied up $1.5 million to pay for 18 new deputies to run the program, which should be in place by the fall. The matter, Bannister has said, is now in the sheriff’s hands.
But Green’s statement said enforcement could start immediately if the county cancelled contracts with the State Department of Corrections to house state inmates. Then, currently crowded local jails would have space for illegal immigrants.
In a related matter, Shirley Lasseter, the former mayor of Duluth running for the District 1 seat, announced a proposal to build a new federal detention center for illegal immigrants. She lacked details, but told me when we talked Friday that they would be forthcoming and shared with the public.
Days later, her opponent Carol Hassell issued a statement that questioned the logic and rationale of an “immigrant” detention center. She also criticized Lasseter for creating a “sanctuary zone” in downtown Duluth for illegal immigrants.
“It hurts our property values all over downtown Duluth, as well as the whole district, to have illegal aliens openly walking around the streets,” the statement read.
See, not only do politicians plan to fix the problem. They can tell who’s illegal and who’s not. Just by looking.
Everybody’s talking tough, ready to clean up Dodge City. They seek election to get rid of “them,’ the problems they cause, the trouble they make, the burden they’ve become.
So be it.
But also be forewarned, my Gwinnett brothers and sisters.
Weigh the grandstanding, exchanges and pledges carefully, no matter the messenger. State and local attempts to deal with illegal immigrants typically get struck down because they encroach on individual Constitutional rights (even illegal immigrants).
Illegal immigration is one of the most convoluted and complex issues of the 21st century. Don’t let your justified concern for the county be exploited by professional politicians or office-seekers.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
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