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ATLANTIC CITY - Towns are the front lines of the national immigration debate, according to state and municipal officials who gathered in the resort Tuesday for the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.

"Those of us here in local government are the ones that are at ground zero," said Kerry Higgins, attorney for Freehold, Monmouth County, during a meeting on immigration issues and the recommendations of a recent report. "We're there facing and trying to bring all members of our communities into our community so that we can have one coherent community."

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy, assembled by Gov. Jon S. Corzine in 2007, released a report in March with more than three dozen policy proposals suggesting how to better integrate New Jersey's tens of thousands of undocumented aliens.

The report drew attention for advocating allowing illegal aliens to drive legally and qualifying their children for in-state tuition rates.

Panel member Ronald Chen, the state's Public Advocate and chairman of

the governor's immigration panel, said Corzine promised him before the election he would create an Office of New Americans by executive order.

That office, in the Public Advocate's office, would help coordinate health and other services, Chen said, implementing the policy suggestions in the report.

Chen said the most successful towns developed relationships between community leaders and municipal employees who spend time in the communities, including police, fire and building department employees.

Others set up a program to let immigrants know what public services existed.

The report, more controversially, suggested the children of illegal immigrants qualify for in-state tuition rates. Chen said he heard stories of academically gifted children, who couldn't afford college, recruited by gangs. He said, "That was their available opportunity."

Higgins said the bottom line for towns is that they do not decide immigration policy - that's for federal government. Towns handle immigrants. "There are very few resources and little input from the state," she said. "Federal policies fail to take into consideration local concerns."

She said her town tries to communicate with immigrants, holding forums on issues including bicycling, housing, public safety and child safety seats.

George Beatty, a committeeman from Hope Township, Warren County, said unchecked immigration has undercut wages in the construction business. Beatty, who said he also owns a construction business, said he would support a program in which immigrants could have some standing and pay taxes. Firms that hire undocumented immigrants would then face stiff penalties.

Immigration is a hot-button issue in many parts of the country, but apparently not here.

Barely two-dozen people attended the meeting, in a cavernous room that seats more than 500.

Contact Derek Harper:

609-292-4935

DHarper@pressofac.com

8 comments:

• Brittanicus (3) posts 5:43 pm

  We think that today's administration under President Obama or previous political parties had a goal of enforcing our immigration laws. But corrupt politicians intervened on behalf of the open border fanatics and special interest lobbyists. As with E-Verify that has become a spotlighted enforcement law, because it was originally nearly tabled by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). But public uproar caused them to forcibly change their decisions and fully fund E-Verify for another 3 years. WITHOUT PUBLIC SUPPORT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CAVED-IN? Right now it is the--ONLY--true enforcement tool implemented, but it is only as good--IF--business owners are forced to use it. Even though hundreds of thousands of companies have now decided to apply it, yet it is not MANDATORY? It is up to the discretion of employers? In a few states Representatives have introduced it into law, as with the fed's issuing an ultimatum that all contractors/subcontractors must use E-Verify. Remember E-Verify does not need buses for deportation? Those here will self-deport. It will take time, but without access to jobs--THEY EVENTUALLY WILL LEAVE. THEY CALL IT "ATTRITION?" Justifiably bloggers should be either criticized for their anti-sovereignty stand, or praised for informing the unaware public of the taxpayers money needed to fund a 2009-2010 Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Rewarding the millions already illegally squatting here, with the costs to support families, children and those kin who will come here through sponsorship. THEN THE MILLIONS MORE WHO HAVE HEARD THE CALL FOR AMNESTY AND RUSH TO GET HERE FROM POOR NATIONS, BEFORE THE NEW LAW MATERIALIZES? House Judiciary Committee's Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) wrote an op-ed for the Washington Times today He stated that the Washington Times had slammed the Obama Administration for hardened enforcement. While the opposite reaction came from the open border advocates saying there was too much enforcement. However Rep. Smith determined the opposite? This is his statement:- * Rescinding of the "no-match" rule that prevents the Social Security Administration from contacting employers when a new hires name and social security number don't match their records. "Without this protection, many employers will continue to employ individuals they know are illegal and are taking jobs that should go to citizens and legal residents," Smith said. * Repeal of REAL ID in lieu of PASS ID, which makes it easier for illegal aliens to obtain a driver's license. "This makes it easier for illegal immigrants to stay in the country. And it can provide terrorists with a legitimate ID - as we saw with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists, who between them obtained 30 driver's licenses and ID cards," Smith said. * Lack of funding for an airport biometric exit system that is part of a DHS proposal to monitor when foreign visitors leave the country. "40 percent of all 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States entered the country legally but overstayed their visas. This program will show who did not leave the country when they should have," Smith said. * Restricted the 287(g) program by limiting the ways local law enforcement officials can help federal immigration enforcement officials. * No funding for border fence, which was required by the Secure Fence Act of 2006. * Signing the CHIP bill making it easier for illegal aliens to get health care. * Reduced work site enforcement by shifting the focus away from the illegal workers and onto the businesses that hire them. * Allow states to provide in-state tuition to illegal aliens even though it violate federal law. Reading the Washington Times indicates to me, that they are pro illegal immigration, that is not in the American workers interest. They have consistently reacted to any enforcement of laws. They are obviously adverse to any immigration restriction, as the majority of the national press have indicated to us. Unlike the rural media who do not condone DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano's rush to OVERPOPULATION through another BLANKET AMNESTY? Grade your Senator of Congressman/Woman on NUMBERSUSA website. Call them and reprimand them for approving another AMNESTY or anything else at 202-224-3121. The people of America have been blindsided to long and must become more involved. We all no by now we cannot trust our government anymore to do the right thing for all of us. To survive we must fight back or financially--SINK. Washington is truly a corrupt place, where taxpayers money is the bargaining chip. Read all at JUDICIAL WATCH, CAPSWEB, ALIPAC, AMERICAN PATROL & THE DARK SIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

• whyoknabth (151) posts 5:15 pm

  Here's a novel idea; deport illegals & be done with it. The Feds should allow local law enforcement to start the process. Get these illegals out of here & free up some jobs for LEGAL Americans! We'd be doing them a favor anyway. With so many American companies closing in the US & relocating South of the border, these illegals with be able to work closer to home. OUTTA HERE!!

• Joe--- (193) posts 8:52 am

  Office of New Americans??? Did I just wake up in Wonderland or in Oz? We have reached H**l in a handbasket and it is full!

• Wizenheimer (68) posts 8:23 am

  Isn't it ironic that two reporters trespass and enter North Korea illegally and then get sentenced to twelve years hard labor. Other countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan you'd be lucky to ever see the light of day again. Yet, we are developing reports on how to better integrate tens of thousands of illegal aliens? Disgusting!

• southjersey (240) posts 8:02 am

  roller137 and njdlmkr I agree with both of you. Illegals are here... deport them. They have kids though and get to stay. that is a law that needs to change. Employers who hire them should be fined 5k to start. They are the real villians.

• joelwisch (1) posts 7:28 am

  Now they are not. This country hangs together, or it hangs seperately. Further, rather than there being a 'boss man' in the cities and towns of America, there should be a voting process for the administrator we call the mayor. He then does as the people ask, and while business may well want to get all the cheap labor it can in a scantuary city, the people of this country have very clearly, and many times, told the governments at all the levels, they want the illegal aliens deported. Just because the Federal Government won't honor their oath of office does not mean we want the illegal aliens to find american jobs, or be provided amnesty. You know... if that isn't clear, we need a new form of government.

• njdlmkr (428) posts 6:54 am

  "Higgins said the bottom line for towns is that they do not decide immigration policy - that's for federal government.”... BULL! We are not under the wing of Barry O!! Illegal ... look up the word. You want jobs? Here's your jobs ... find illegals, jail illegals, deport illegals.

• roller137 (269) posts 6:38 am

  Perhaps the seats were empty because ordinary people are working on a Tuesday afternoon, and couldnt get to the Conference?

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