Sunday, February 25, 2007
Government contributes to locals' woes
When the government paperwork blocks business owners efforts to determine if a worker is legal, the immigrants flood the area causing housing, education and health problems in counties that don't have the resources to police the problem. This report is from South Carolina.
"Reid Ringer of Saluda said his county has been overrun by illegal immigrants who came to work in agriculture and poultry processing.
"Saluda County is currently in a state of chaos," Ringer said, showing photos of the living conditions of immigrants who are stuffed into decrepit trailers reconfigured to house more than one family.
Marti Coleman-Adams, also of Saluda, said the town now looks shabby because of the dilapidated housing cobbled together for the influx of immigrants and longtime residents' taxes are rising steeply to pay for extra services. Michele Beasley of Charleston said she sees similar things happening in her area. Beasley said Medical University Hospital is supplying free health care to immigrants. With such volumes of newcomers, "we can only assume the majority of these people are illegal," she said. Lem Dillard, a peach farmer, said he tries to make sure all his workers are documented but the government paperwork is difficult to work with and people are often fined for simple mistakes."
Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, sponsored several bills dealing with illegal immigration. Story here in the Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) 02/15/2007
"Reid Ringer of Saluda said his county has been overrun by illegal immigrants who came to work in agriculture and poultry processing.
"Saluda County is currently in a state of chaos," Ringer said, showing photos of the living conditions of immigrants who are stuffed into decrepit trailers reconfigured to house more than one family.
Marti Coleman-Adams, also of Saluda, said the town now looks shabby because of the dilapidated housing cobbled together for the influx of immigrants and longtime residents' taxes are rising steeply to pay for extra services. Michele Beasley of Charleston said she sees similar things happening in her area. Beasley said Medical University Hospital is supplying free health care to immigrants. With such volumes of newcomers, "we can only assume the majority of these people are illegal," she said. Lem Dillard, a peach farmer, said he tries to make sure all his workers are documented but the government paperwork is difficult to work with and people are often fined for simple mistakes."
Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, sponsored several bills dealing with illegal immigration. Story here in the Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) 02/15/2007
# posted by Norma : 2/25/2007 02:39:00 PM
