Foxx shares concerns of illegal immigration

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx attended a hearing on the consequences of illegal immigration
 
The Kernersville News
 
A House Government Reform Committee field hearing was held on Wednesday, April 12 at 10 a.m. in Winston-Salem.  According to information provided by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s press secretary Amy Auth, the hearing was organized by the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, which Congresswoman Foxx is a member of.

“We try to have a field hearing anytime we can get the representatives from the district together,” said Foxx. 

According to Foxx the hearing was designed to seek answers from federal, state and local government witnesses about the effects of illegal immigration on a community level.  Foxx said a number of witnesses spoke at the hearing sharing valuable information with the committee.

“Mr. (Jeffrey) Jordan, an agent for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) told us that 80 percent of the methamphetamines coming into North Carolina are coming from Mexico,” said Foxx.  “He also confirmed that the connection between crime and drugs is strong.”

According to Foxx, Tom Keith, district attorney for the 21st judicial district, also told the members of the panel that Hispanic people are underrepresented in prison but over-represented when dealing with cases involving drugs.

Foxx and the other panel members also heard from Debra Conrad-Shrader, vice chair of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and Don Martin, superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

“We really got to hear first hand about the impact of Spanish speaking children in our classrooms,” said Foxx. 

Another concern brought up during the field hearing was the correlation between gangs and the impact they have in the area.

“Gangs are having an impact on our area,” said Foxx.  “There is a relationship between the crimes and drugs and the gangs in our area.”

Another key point of the hearing was to seek answers about how the federal government should respond to the growing concern of members of local governments in regard to illegal immigrants.

“I think some really good things came out of the field hearing,” said Foxx.  “We talked about trying to establish a deportation center in Winston-Salem near the Smith-Reynolds Airport.  Right now, people who are being deported go through several places.  By creating a deportation center in Winston-Salem, we could have those being deported sent directly from Smith-Reynolds Airport.”

Foxx said she thinks the public is not fully aware of the cost of illegal immigrants to the government on all levels.

“Most people don’t see the cost; they emphasize on the positive aspects of having illegal immigrants here.  When legal immigrants come into this country they sign a document stating they will not be a burden on the system.  Illegal immigrants don’t sign those documents and are becoming a burden.  Illegal immigration is having a tremendous negative impact on our state and local governments,” said Foxx.  “It is causing unbearable strains on our local schools, hospitals and law enforcement because they are having to accommodate individuals who are breaking our laws.  Our local law enforcement is feeling the strain of a major growth in violent street gangs, an increase in illegal drug activity and a rise in sexual assault cases stemming from illegal immigrants.  This diverts massive resources away from protecting those who are here legally.  I hope this field hearing will help shed light on these problems and offer solutions.”