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Nelson hears immigration complaints

By CHANDRA BROADWATER
Published April 19, 2006

	[Times photo: Keri Wiginton]
	U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, left, speaks to residents who attended the town hall meeting in Brooksville City Hall on Tuesday. Many asked him about congressional action on immigration. "I don't think putting up a fence will help," Nelson said. "We need to use technology."

BROOKSVILLE - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson visited with North Suncoast constituents Tuesday and got an earful on the issue of immigration.

As part of his tour, Nelson, who is on congressional recess, met with about 40 Hernando residents at Brooksville City Hall. He also made stops in Citrus, Pasco and Sumter counties.

Nelson, Florida's senior senator and a Democrat, is running for re-election this year. Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris is also in the race.

Most of Tuesday's hourlong meeting in Brooksville focused on immigration reform. The conversation was also peppered with residents' concerns over the war in Iraq, rising oil prices and health care.

Disappointed by the Senate's inability to agree on a solution, Nelson said that reform of immigration laws must begin with acknowledging the lack of enforcement of current laws.

Businesses that hire illegal immigrants do not face penalties as laws call for, Nelson said. And with as many as 12-million illegal immigrants now living in the United States, he said, the road to fixing the problem is complex.

He said he supports using technology to aid in the patrol of borders, not only to crack down on those sneaking over, but also to protect the country against terrorist threats.

"I don't think putting up a fence will help," Nelson said. "And we can't use the military. . . . They're stretched thin. We need to use technology."

Nelson said he has put forth a proposal to use cameras, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and other devices to keep a watch on border areas. He wants to see the electronic system implemented, along with a plan to give workers who are needed in the country temporary legal working status. That way, the workers could be put on a path to becoming accounted for and documented, he said.

"Merging these two goals together, to get these people out of the shadows, working and paying taxes, is what we need to do," Nelson said. "And at the same time patrol borders."

Comments from residents on the immigration issue ranged from "put them in a compound and ship them to whatever country will take them," as one person stated, to what others deemed as more pragmatic approaches.

"We can't just get rid of 12-million people," said Paul Ouellette, a Spring Hill resident. "You can't turn the country into a Gestapo-like state. They're just going to go that much further underground. We need a program that's going to entice them out and become legalized."

During Nelson's meeting in Dade City, immigrant advocate Margarita Romo appealed to the senator for his support of a more comprehensive immigration bill. About 50 constituents attended that session.

"We're not asking for freebies," Romo, director of Farmworkers Self-Help, said afterward. "We're just asking for a chance."

A half-dozen demonstrators at the Dade City meeting stood in the back of the room holding signs, one stating "We need your vote" and another supporting "equal rights for migrants."

Nelson said that he is not optimistic about the Senate coming to a compromise on the languishing reform bill any time soon. Just before the congressional recess almost two weeks ago, the bill fell flat after senators failed to agree on how to bring it to the Senate floor.

The intensity of the issue, combined with the acidic split between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, has made it tough for the two sides to get anything done, he said.

The Senate is expected to take up the issue when it reconvenes next week.

"Even if we get something out of the Senate, the two sides are so hardened that we won't come to an agreement," Nelson said. "I think a lame-duck session will have to be called after the election."

Staff writer Molly Moorhead contributed to this report. Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com or 352 848-1432.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:58:13]