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Zimmer asks for legislation against illegal immigrants
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Related Topics: Carroll County
Carroll County (Map, News) - Adult illegal immigrants should be banned from Carroll County by law, says Commissioner Michael Zimmer.
He says the county’s state delegation should pass a law against adult illegal immigrants in Carroll, and he is asking his fellow commissioners to encourage them to take action. In a commission form of government, the state lawmakers must pass the law.
“It’s important to sort of send the message that if you’re a legal resident, you’re welcome here in Carroll County,” Zimmer said. “If your not, it’s not a good situation.”
The law would require proof of legal county residence or citizenship to receive county services, Zimmer said, from social services to libraries to trash pickup.
He stressed that it would apply only to adults because children don’t have a choice whether they are illegal.
“You’re an adult, and you’re not in this county legally, you’re not here legally, but why are our taxpayers’ money and dollars going to pay for you?” Zimmer asked.
Federal law prohibits education to be withheld based on citizenship.
Two nearby counties, Loudoun and Prince William, both Northern Virginia jurisdictions, have enacted similar legislation against illegal immigrants.
A lawsuit recently filed by civil rights groups against Prince William County argues it is illegal to force police to check citizenship in common traffic stops.
Despite such obstacles in other counties, Zimmer feels strongly enough to push forward on the local level.
Zimmer requested a public hearing and more discussion with various county departments.
Commissioner Dean Minnich wanted to take action against illegal immigrants, but not before studying the issue further.
“We need to deal with the issue of illegal immigration — we do, that’s a given, that’s the easy part,” Minnich said. “We don’t know how many are here because we can’t count them.”
msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:24 AM MST on Fri., Nov. 2, 2007 re: "Zimmer asks for legislation against illegal immigrants"
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Examiner Reader said:
Seems the counties and states have to take measures as the federal politicians can not understand the word illegal in illegal alien. maybe because they, the politicians, are involved in so much illegal activities that they accept this as the norm.
91 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let's get ready of the ILLEGAL ALIENS once and for all!!! Illegal MEAN ILLEGAL.
100 agree | 80 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why make additional laws whenthese people are already in violation of ones on the books. Enforce these laws and support ICE in their efforts to rid us of the criminal illegals. Dont waste time on the day laborer. The ones who are committing serius crimes should be targeted !!!
101 agree | 105 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There are far to many illegal immigrants in Carroll County. Buying falsified social security numbers and cards. They might be using your number. These illegal immigrants know exactly where to buy the ss#, then they can get fake ID, driver's licenses and bank accounts and pay no taxes and many benefits. This activity has been reported to the INS but I've heard there is far to many for them to do anything about it. As citizen of Carroll County we need to do something about it. But who do you report these illegal immigrants to?? Because I could give you a list of them and where they work to start! Fact: one of these immigrants is using the social security # of a dead man! What is that saying about our country!
86 agree | 107 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't have an issue with the full story, but the headline and lead makes it appear that the plan is to toss all illegal out of the county. As the story points out, the plan is only to deny services to illegals. Please be more careful in your headline writing.
97 agree | 97 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We the taxpayers don't have to support ILLEGAL ALIENS nor give them any benefit, by law they are no suppose to be in this country ILLEGALY thereford they should receove walfare from are State.
89 agree | 58 disagree
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