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Town hall to address immigration reform

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

(Updated 5:12 am)

By Jennifer Fernandez
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — Advocates for immigration reform set up a town hall meeting Thursday to discuss the issue with U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s staff.

The public is invited to attend the 7 p.m. meeting at Congregational United Church of Christ.

The meeting provides an “opportunity for both the church and the community at-large to learn more about the issue and to have some of our elected representatives hear more about the issues and to speak about reform,” the Rev. Julie Peeples said.

Hagan won’t be able to attend but is sending her state deputy director, said deputy press secretary Sadie Weiner.

“I strongly believe we need to focus on comprehensive immigration reform to ensure all immigration laws are being enforced equally throughout the state and the country,” Hagan said in a statement.

Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat who opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, said reform should focus on “strengthening our borders, holding employers accountable and cracking down on entities that knowingly hire illegal workers, and cutting off the flow of illegal immigrants into our country.”

She said the country needs to strengthen its guest-worker programs and make sure “we are giving employers the resources they need to follow the rules, be competitive and thrive.”

Participants will be able to submit written questions for a session at the end, Peeples said.

The meeting will include personal accounts from immigrants, many who live in fear of being stopped while driving to the store or being separated from their children, she said.

FaithAction International, a nonprofit, faith-based group that runs an Immigrant Assistance Center, is among the sponsors.

“Our goal for this meeting is, more than anything, for immigrants’ stories to be heard,” said center Director Eric Francisco Jonas, “so that perspective is taken into account when thinking about immigration reform and immigration laws.”

The meeting is one of a series of events across the state this month promoting a resolution to immigration reform, Peeples said.

“We are encouraging faith communities to study this issue carefully, to get the facts,” she said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com

Want to go?

What: Town hall on immigration reform
When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday
Where: Congregational United Church of Christ, 400 W. Radiance Drive, Greensboro
More information: 274-5378 or 854-0633

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Doug Johnson

September 2, 2009 - 6:11 am EDT

Amazing she will not meet with Americans who are against her Obama care, yet she will send someone to hear the gripes of ILLEGALS!
Of course she did her part when she was a member of the Raleigh Mafia,to take care of illegals, while taxing NC citizens to death.
Kay do your job, follow the law, round up illegals and send them home.

uncwgm

September 2, 2009 - 8:07 am EDT

So the senator won't meet with our citizens about healthcare but will meet to discuss amnesty for illegals..very interesting indeed..

laserguidedloogie

September 2, 2009 - 9:19 am EDT

Ok, translation time. Time to translate between "social marxist speak," and English.

"Address immigration" means, "discuss ways to fool Americans so we can import MORE third worlders."

Since the vast majority of Americans are against the ongoing invasion of our country, you only need to "address immigration" if you are going to do something most of us are against. Otherwise there's nothing that needs to be said.

I have an address for most of them: Somewhere south of the Rio Grande.

Ken
http://www.LaserGuidedLoogie.com

iloveusa

September 2, 2009 - 12:57 pm EDT

all of the comments that i've read so far are way out of touch with reality. first of all, the article said that IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES would speak with the senator's staff. second of all, even if it was undocumented immigrants speaking directly with the senator why are YOU threatened? you could do the same--have a rational, respectful dialogue. This country was founded by and strengthened by immigrants. Even if immigration wasn't a problem, the demographics are changing fast and the face of this nation will no longer be the same. This change is not bad. It just is. 1 out of every 5 children in public school, for instance, is Latino.

I also think its sad when xenophobes start to believe their own myths. Like the myth that most "Americans are against immigration." Get your facts straight. Most US Americans support a reform in the immigration system. Mexicans are also Americans because they live in North America. There are some Mexican-Americans that have been in this country loooooong before any of your ancestors.

Lastly, history has taught us that those that resist change focused equality and fair treatment of ALL are remembered as the racist, backwards thinking individuals. We remember now the courageous actions of the Little Rock 9 for instance, and feel sad for the angry mob that resisted integration. On what side of history will you stand when the history of immigration in the 21st century is written?

MizManners

September 2, 2009 - 3:17 pm EDT

I think that most Americans and North Carolinians would like to see an end the immigration debate in the next year. It is time for Congress to provide our nation with new solutions that take into the account the best interests of American workers, business owners, and those people who while they may not have been born in this country choose to immigrate because they believe in the American Dream. It is time for Congress to revise the immigration system so that the workers that businesses need (construction, service, agriculture) may work and live legally in the United States. Having a legal system that works (vs the current one that is 45 years outdated) will also improve border security and bring people into the tax system.

PS: I work with Hispanic children in Guilford County. These native born children of immigrants grow up to speak, read, and write English much more fluently then they do Spanish! Today's immigrants (undocumented or documented, illegal or legal) assimilate, acculturate, and contribute to America just as immigrants have for centuries throughout American history. Immigration is a part of our American history and we should be proud that we are still a country that many wish to call home.

DelawareBob

September 2, 2009 - 11:55 pm EDT

We do not need reform. That is just another word for AMNESTY!

Illegal aliens have made America the dumping ground for all their illegal alien children, then we have to school them and give them free medical care.

I for one, am sick and tired of these ILLEGAL ALIENS snubbing their nose at our immigration laws and the many other laws of this Country. If our Federal Government can not ENFORCE our immigration laws, and get these ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this Country, then let the States do it! One way or another, an end has to come to this illegal immigration, and not with AMNESTY! Amnesty will only encourage more ILLEGAL ALIENS to invade our Country and reward those who broke our laws and raped the American taxpayer in many ways...depressing our wages, taking our jobs, overwhelming our schools with their ILLEGAL ALIEN children, driving without a license or car insurance, all the crime from stolen identities to rape, drugs and everything else.

It's time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It's time for them get out of this Country and back in their own Country where they belong. When we get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS, we will get rid of all the problems that go with them. THAT IS A FACT!

Is North Carolina ready for a State Illegal Immigration Law, yet?