| | |  Editorials | Issues | October 2008 
US In A State Over Immigration
 Robert Nisbet - Sky News
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| | This man is one of many affected by the adoption of 'rule of law' in Prince William County. | | |
Since George W. Bush moved into the White House, 10 million immigrants have arrived in America - half of them illegally.
It is an issue which inflames passions, on either side of the political divide.
Both presidential candidates voted in favour of 700 miles of new fencing along the Mexican border, but this isn't just an issue for states like Texas and Arizona, where John McCain is a senator.
A small region of Virginia called Prince William County has ignited a national debate.
A community pressure group called ‘Help Save Manassas’ persuaded the county to adopt a 'rule of law' resolution.
Any person arrested in the county now has their immigration status automatically checked. Illegals are then processed for deportation.
One of the organisers, Greg Latiecq claims the county was overrun with illegal immigrants, touting for building work in car parks, cramming into small houses and spraying gang graffiti on walls.
He said a lack of leadership from Congress and the White House forced the group to act.
"There's more than a vacuum at the federal level. I'd almost call it being run by a bunch of traitors in some cases," he told Sky News.
But campaigners claim the rule of law resolution has created a climate of fear, forcing an exodus of Latinos from the county.
Miriam, who illegally crossed the border into Texas with her family 17 years ago, told Sky News: "When you go to work, you need to pray that your husband's going to make it there too."
"If Help Save Mansassas did their homework they would realise there are people who have lived here for many years who have not taken advantage of the system and who pay their taxes."
"Racism is driving them, only racism," she says.
Reaching for an immigration compromise, Senators McCain and Obama are looking to a guest worker scheme blossoming in the tobacco fields of Southern Virginia.
In 1975, farmer Hart Hudson persuaded a reluctant Department of Labor to allow him to bring in workers from Mexico as part of a guest visa programme. He provides accommodation and food, then flies the men home after the harvest.
He says if he had to rely on American labour, the crop would wither.
"The Americans are not willing to do field hand labour. Absolutely not. We have developed such a society that it would absolutely be refused."
Both candidates support expanding the guest worker programme so builders and agri-business can legally bring in the workforce they need.
But getting Congress to agree on such a hot button topic is tricky; an attempt two years ago, supported by Senator McCain, collapsed amid criticism it would amount to amnesty for people who were in America illegally.
So in the absence of reform at a national level, local councils like Prince William County are filling the void.
The next president will have to steer a compromise. |
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