5/10 – WABE(Audio) – African-American leaders oppose immigration bill, but some don’t (2011-05-10)

WABE: African-American leaders oppose immigration bill, but some don’t (2011-05-10).

African-American leaders oppose immigration bill, but some don’t

Shomial Ahmad (2011-05-10)

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ATLANTA, GA (WABE) – Illegal immigration is an issue that divides the African-American community. Many black leaders have opposed the controversial immigration bill that Governor Deal is expected to sign any day. But one major local black organization has not officially opposed the bill.

Victory for the World church is a mega-church off of North Hairston Rd. in Stone Mountain.
Working and middle class blacks make up the congregation. Immigration isn’t an issue that’s on top of the minds of the faithful, but it’s still an issue that Pastor Kenneth Samuel brings up in a recent sermon.

“Hispanics, they work under conditions that most black brothers and sisters I know wouldn’t even think about. Now, we’ll work in Kentucky Fried Chicken, but have you ever been to the chicken plants in Georgia?”

Some of the worshippers at Samuel’s church are concerned about the immigration bill recently passed by the state legislature. They say it will lead to racial profiling, it will divide Latino families. But not everyone agrees. Leon Brown thinks something needs to be done about illegal immigration.

“They are overloading the system. They’re using up the facilities and time and resources for people who are taxpayers.”

It’s not just the Stone Mountain congregation that has a mixed opinion about illegal immigration. Reverend Timothy McDonald is a board member and a past president of the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta. McDonald says most members oppose the immigration bill, but not all.

“Immigration is a controversial issue within the African-American community. We do have some members who are of the mindset that it takes jobs away from African-Americans. That’s their primary concern.”

The clergy hasn’t taken an official position on the immigration bill. Emory Political Science Professor Michael Leo Owens says some blacks may be reluctant to support immigrant rights because they feel black political power will be reduced. Owens gives an example from the major immigration rights marches in 2006.

“We saw lots of signs, and signs that said things like today we march, tomorrow we vote. And I think some African-Americans read that as a political threat.”

Owens says that while the black community may be somewhat divided on illegal immigration. He says there’s pretty much a consensus with African-American leaders that illegal immigration isn’t a major problem.

5/11 – ajc.com – Feds: Don’t screen students for immigration status | ajc.com

Feds: Don’t screen students for immigration status  | ajc.com.

Georgia Politics 4:48 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2011

By Jeremy Redmon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Federal authorities are warning public school officials across the country not to inquire about the immigration status of their students.

Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com Students flow through the halls during a class change at Dacula High School. Federal agencies say school districts must educate children regardless of their legal status.

Related

• Federal judge blocks Utah immigration law
• Obama mocks Republican position on immigration

In Georgia, state lawmakers considered legislation this year that could have run counter to the warning.

House Bill 296 would have required the state Board of Education to tally the expenditures, by school district, for illegal immigrants in kindergarten through 12th grade. That information would have been published on the state board’s website. But in accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe, the state Board of Education’s rules prohibit school officials from inquiring about the legal status of students.

Supporters of tougher immigration legislation in Georgia have argued that the state needs to take action because illegal immigrants are burdening taxpayer-funded resources here, such as schools, hospitals and prisons.

The U.S. Justice and Education departments cited the 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision, which says school districts must educate children regardless of their legal status, in the warning they sent Friday.

“Recently, we have become aware of student enrollment practices that may chill or discourage the participation, or lead to the exclusion, of students based on their or their parents’ or guardians’ actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status,” the letter says. “These practices contravene federal law.”

The federal agencies’ letter does not say where these enrollment practices are taking place.

The letter also warns school districts they may not deny enrollment to students if they or their parents choose not to provide their Social Security numbers. Some schools use those numbers to identify students. A Valdosta schools spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday that her school district is revising its forms to clarify it is optional for students to supply that information.

HB 296 never made it out of committee this year. But its sponsor — Republican Rep. Josh Clark of Buford — plans to push for it next year. He said it’s possible Georgia school officials could discern whether students are legally in the country through the records they already request of them — including birth certificates — and still comply with federal law.

“As policymakers, we need to have an accurate tally of what it is costing the taxpayers as we educate those who are here illegally,” Clark said. “We can then have our options whether we perhaps sue the federal government and say, ‘Hey, you know what. This is your responsibility. This burden should not be on the backs of Georgia citizens, who are playing by the rules.’ “