Published: August 28, 2008 10:37 am         

Group wants action on immigration

The idea of immigration law enforcement is a slippery slope. But some Goshen-area residents have decided to form a local action group in order to address the issue.

The Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement (CILE) group recently formed, with the first meeting taking place June 1.

The group organized with the idea that current immigration laws should be carried out throughout the country.

Bob Schrameyer, one of the group’s organizers, said support has been provided by local legislators, including state representatives Jackie Walorski and John Ulmer. However, with the assistance of surveys, CILE members would also like to get the opinions of congressional candidates who will be running in the upcoming election.

“We feel that something should be done at the state level,” Schrameyer said, adding that the group will back whomever shares similar views on the issue.

Schrameyer said the group has also received plenty of support from Goshen-area residents.

“There are a lot of people who feel the same way we do,” he said.

This is not the first for this type of organization in the United States. According to Schrameyer, several states, including Arizona, Oklahoma and Georgia, have enacted legislation that places responsibilities on employers to ensure companies are not hiring undocumented workers, an idea that the group would like to see take effect in Indiana.

City councilwoman Dixie Robinson, who lost her job at Johnson Controls when operations closed down locally and moved to Mexico, said that while having jobs taken by undocumented immigrants isn’t necessarily harming the economy, it isn’t making things any easier.

“The money that’s being sent to Mexico would stay here,” Robinson said, adding that people who are currently looking for jobs would have more options if immigration laws were being enforced.

“We would rebound quicker, that’s for sure,” she said.

CILE members want to make it clear that they are not against the idea of immigrants coming to the United States, as long as the proper steps are taken to ensure their citizenship.

“We are not an ‘anti-anything’ group. We are a ‘pro enforce the law’ group,” Robinson said.

State Rep. Walorski, R-Jimtown, said the formation of the Goshen group is symptomatic of the frustration of Hoosiers who want something done on an issue that affects their lives.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Walorski said of the efforts of the local group. “I’m a big proponent of grass-roots activity.”

She said surveys in her district, which includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, indicate that, aside from property taxes, immigration is the the most important issue.

“If the federal people had any political will, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Walorski added.

She has been assigned to an interim study committee on immigration issues. This group will have its first meeting Sept. 9 in Indianapolis.

Walorski said the 12 committee members will be examining data to try to get a handle on the issue of illegal immigration.

Among the topics to be studied are the financial effects of illegal immigrants on education, health care, the criminal justice system, social services and employment. Also, federal limits on state actions regarding immigration and the potential of the E-Verify system are to be examined.

Walorski said there was no mandate to develop legislation in the committee, although she expects to introduce her own immigration bills after the committee’s findings are developed.

“This is a hot spot issue for Elkhart County,” Walorski concluded.

Group to meet