Index-Journal - Local Area Responds to Barrett's Proposal

News Article

Index-Journal - Local Area Responds to Barrett's Proposal

CHRIS TRAINOR

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., announced an aggressive resolution intended to coerce Congress into action on immigration and border control issues.

On Tuesday, local government officials and residents made their opinions known about Barrett's resolution.

Barrett appeared at Greenwood County Courthouse on Monday, presenting a news conference to announce the resolution. It calls for Congress to ensure current border security laws are in place and being implemented. One of the laws Barrett wants enforced calls for 18,000 border patrol agents along the Mexican border by 2008.

As of now, only 14,000 agents have been trained and positioned.

*
Also, Barrett wants to see the pace of work increased on the construction of 850 miles of fencing along the border. Only 16 miles of the fence have been placed.

Greenwood County Councilman Dee Compton discussed the congressman's plans.

"I fully support what Congressman Barrett is trying to do," Compton said. "On a local level, we need Congress to approve funding to support these mandates. That way local law enforcement will have the necessary means to pursue the enforcement of these immigration laws.

"What we don't need is more unfunded mandates."

The main emphasis of Barrett's address focused on urging Congress to enforce the laws it already has on the books regarding the border agents and the construction of the fencing along the Mexican border.

It's an emphasis Marshall Smith, of Abbeville, agrees with.

"It's time for them to start doing some of the things they promised they would do about illegal immigration," Smith said. "Before Congress starts passing these comprehensive plans regarding legalization, they need to see about slowing down the influx of illegals coming from Mexico.

"Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with immigrants being here legally, or on a form of sanctioned work program. But the large numbers of illegal immigrants is costing us money in health care and in other areas, not to mention the issues of drugs and things of that nature."

Speaking at Barrett's news conference, Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman touched on the influx of drugs being smuggled across the border. It's an issue that also concerns Brant M. Anderson, a Greenwood native.

"The drugs are a big issue, especially this mass-produced meth that is supposedly being smuggled in," Anderson said Tuesday. "The problem with that is that it will be years before we know what the really long term effects of meth will be.

"I don't think more agents or an 850-mile fence will stop people from crossing, but I believe it could slow it down quite a bit."

Anderson also said he would be interested in exploring the benefits and detriments illegal immigrants have on the local economy, especially as it relates to the money they might earn working here being sent back to their home country.

Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson greeted Barrett before Monday's gathering. On Tuesday, the mayor talked about the resolution.

"I am in support of that resolution," Nicholson said. "At the same time, I think we need to be fair to all immigrants. Immigration laws like this should focus on all immigrants, not just one segment of the population."

Source