NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS CHANGING POSITION ON IMMIGRATION 

RALEIGH—State Democrats met in Greensboro last Saturday to consider resolutions at their Statewide Executive Committee meeting.  On the agenda were two items dealing directly with illegal immigration.  The state Democrat party website currently lists under its position on immigration: 

“While we recognize that immigration laws are enacted at the federal level, our State government and grassroots citizens can impact such policies by influencing our federal representatives to strengthen our national borders, protect homeland security, and to enforce existing laws.”  (http://www.ncdp.org/issues/immigration) 

However, the resolutions approved by the state executive committee last Saturday would effectively alter the position of the Democrat Party on illegal immigration.  Two provisions are of special note here: 

“141. A Resolution In Support of Immigration Reform 

Resolved, that the North Carolina Democratic Party calls for 

1. International efforts designed to create conditions so that people do not have to leave their homes out of necessity through revised policies on trade, international economic aid, debt relief, and other types of economic programs that result in people not having to migrate in order to survive 

2. A reduction of the visa application backlog and the provision under law for more available visas for family reunification purposes. 

3. An end to the incarceration of care giving parents of U.S. Citizens for civil violations of the Immigration laws pending hearings on status. 

4. Sensitive and evenhanded consideration for refugee settlement in the United States of those persons who are in danger of retaliation for their part as employees of the United States and/or their support of U.S. Policies. 

5. A temporary worker program that includes: 

a. Path to permanent residency which is achievable/verifiable 

b. Family unity which allows immediate family members to join workers 

c. Job portability which allows workers to change employers 

d. Labor protections which apply to U.S. workers 

e. Enforcement mechanisms and resources to enforce worker’s rights 

f. Wages and benefits which do not undercut domestic workers 

g. Mobility between the U.S. and a workers homeland, and within the U.S. 

6. Opportunities for those without proper immigration documentation to obtain legalization. 

7. A careful consideration and action by the Congress of the United States as to the legal rights and constitutional protections that pertain to all persons residing in the United States. 

8. Restoration of due process and recognition of basic Human Rights for everyone irrespective of immigration status by the Citizenship and Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security. [1, 4] 

142. A Resolution In Support of Establishing a Policy on Arrest for Civil Immigration Violation 

Therefore Be It Resolved, that the North Carolina Democratic Party urges that no county in North Carolina enter into a memorandum of agreement with any agency to enforce immigration laws or take any other action that might result in racial profiling or create a climate of fear and hostility for any community in the County; and 

Be it further resolved, that the Party asks that municipal governments in the State refuse to enter into memoranda of agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration laws; and 

Be it further resolved, that the Party urges all law enforcement jurisdictions adopt the policy to arrest or take into custody a person only when such person is known to have committed a criminal felony violation; and 

Be it further resolved, that the Party urges that this resolution be forwarded to all law enforcement agencies and elected officials in North Carolina. [4]”  (http://www.ncdp.org/pdf/2007_Resolutions_Consent_Agenda_and_Debate_Agenda_final.pdf, emphasis added) 

Chairman Linda Daves, North Carolina Republican Party, made the following statement: 

“Democrats are wrong again.  They want to talk tough on illegal immigration and pretend to care about securing our borders, defending the homeland, and enforcing current law.  However, now Democrats are undermining local law enforcement agencies as they crack down on illegal immigrants who are committing additional crimes once they make it to North Carolina.  You cannot have it both ways.  Unfortunately, it seems the liberal Democrat leadership is more interested in making North Carolina a safe haven for illegal immigrants than in enforcing the rule of law.  I applaud Republican leaders such as Elizabeth Dole and Sue Myrick who are working with local law enforcement to ensure that our state is protected against lawbreakers who should never have made it to our state in the first place. 

The NC Democrat Party is right about one thing.  This nation is a nation of immigrants.  Many have come here legally seeking a better life and through their hard work have taken hold of the American dream.  The way to honor and respect that tradition is not to allow those who come here illegally to jump the line while people who have been waiting for years to come here the proper way continue to wait.  If a person really desires to come to our country and our state, that person’s first act on our soil should not be to break our laws.   

This is an issue where the two parties have very different positions.  Democrats want to make North Carolina a sanctuary state.  Republicans want the rule of law enforced.  Voters in North Carolina should know our positions.”

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