Illegal immigration debate heats up through the county

Craig Meister, The Examiner
May 2, 2006

Carroll County - With hundreds gathering in Baltimore on Monday evening calling for comprehensive immigration reform, many Carroll County leaders and residents agree the status quo is unacceptable.

“I think the national behavior today is unfortunate. You are allowed to protest, but many of these people are here illegally,” said Del. Susan W. Krebs, R-District 9B.

Krebs said her main concern is preventing driver’s licenses from getting into the hands of illegal immigrants.

“You get called for jury duty based on your driver’s license and from my conversations with the board of elections, right now you don’t even have to ask for ID to vote,” she said.

Westminster Council Member Suzanne Albert said the community must reach out.

“We are here to meet all residents’ needs as human beings. It’s important to partner with agencies, because we have to get resources to people in a timely manner,” she said.

  “When I talk to Mexicans, they say they are not working today, they are boycotting,” said Waqar Ahmed, originally from Pakistan and owner of Little     Jay’s on Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster,

which has a large foreign-born clientele. I think America needs these workers, because they do odd jobs. When you have these people, you have to take care them.

“You have to consider their importance. If you don’t give them rights, that’s not right. We need their services for the development and construction of this country.”

Westminster community activist Rebekah Orenstein agreed.

“Many of the new immigrants understand the concept of community better than some of the folks who have rented on Pennsylvania Avenue. They are a good and healthy part of our community,” she said.

Keeping immigrants on the margins of society will be harmful in the long run, she said.

Krebs said illegal immigration has not yet become as large of a problem in Carroll County as in other parts of the state.