Tensions are running high for many immigrants in Georgia illegally as we approach the final hurdle to passing a law allowing police officers to inquire as to someone's immigration status.
The AJC ran a good article on Sunday highlighting some of the people who could be affected. Click here to read it. It is surprising that the AJC published the names of several people here illegally as well as details regarding where they work and attend school.
It is said that next to Gwinnett, DeKalb has the most immigrants. Georgia tracks the number of students enrolled as English-language learners and DeKalb has 9,329 (and 187 ESOL teachers). Many of those who are here illegally are planning to flee Georgia in anticipation of the chances of getting deported due to the new law. This could trigger a significant loss of students in our schools – and consequently a loss of state and federal funding.
It's certainly something to watch.
While Federal officials continue to debate the illegal immigration issue and it IS a political hot potato. This got me to thinking.
ReplyDeleteIf say 25% of the 9,300 that Cere mentions leave the system, we will lose the federal dollars that are attached with those people. However, could those 25% who leave relieve some of the stresses on DCSS' over burdened instructional capabilities & infrastructure that we hear so much about?
I think we need to enforce the laws on the books, secure the borders and give the immigrants, who are here illegally, a chance at legal status. I think it's right to know who is coming over our borders, we must attempt to stop the ones that mean us harm.
If we do lose, say 25% of those Federal dollars, could the Office of Title 1 Dollars, eh excuse me, Improvement, lose some funding which could mean job cuts?
This is something to watch....
I think those looking for a dramatic change in enrolment will be disappointed. Not that the new law hasn't caused great anxiety among the population - a friend of mine works at a bank branch and related that there has been a steady stream of husbands and wives inquiry about how to maintain access to cash accounts if one spouse is deported, for example. The anecdotes I am hearing from the kids is that few are making a preemptive move based on the law.
ReplyDeleteWhat would I do if I had to choose between staying clear of DeKalb law enforcement or returning my family to a fate of hopelessness, violent crime, corrupt government, and poverty? Hmmmm .... not a hard choice.
I think the exodus, if there is one, will be slow and steady, rather than dramatic and fast. If neighbors and friends get deported, people will start wondering what to do.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, a recent jobs report, that hasn't gotten much publicity, shows that Atlanta's economy is unlikely to return to pre recession ways until at least 2014, later than most other places. Unemployment in the construction industry is a shocking 38 percent. I suspect that for laborers it is even higher.
As things improve faster in surrounding and other states, you can expect some movement for economic reasons.
the use of the word exodus is an interesting one ... forty years might be more likely than not.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding from talking to some folks is the fear is getting jail time for getting caught working with a false SS card. Deporation would be a picnic in comparison.
ReplyDeleteBelow is what the AJC is reporting about Beverly Hall -- a former national superintendent of the year!
ReplyDeleteSuperintendent Beverly Hall ordered the destruction of investigative documents that detailed “systematic” cheating on standardized tests in the Atlanta Public Schools, according to a former high-ranking district official.
Hall also instructed subordinates to omit “adverse findings” from a new version of the report and then publicly cited the revised document in an aggressive rebuttal of the cheating allegations, the former official says.
When she protested, the former official says, her supervisor said the district had the right to “sanitize” the investigation and that “the matter was closed” because Hall “had directed that all other documents be destroyed.”
Destroying or altering government records is a felony in Georgia, carrying a prison sentence of as much as 10 years.
The illegals must not be too worried about being deported if they are granting newspaper interviews, revealing their names and telling everyone where their children are enrolled in school.
ReplyDeleteI also picked up from that article that the kid that attends Lakeside is likely out of district. Either that or his sibling attending Cary Reynolds Elem. is, which I think is unlikely.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm sorry but I find the mother of 4 that's been hear 14 years and still can't speak english insulting.
I agree No Duh. I don't think they're worried much. In fact, since the punishment for getting caught is to be deported, then what is the sense of going ahead and deporting yourself before you have to? Just wait it out... and hope the laws change...
ReplyDeleteThat's fine with me...let them go. Then the teacher won't have to spend so much time teaching them to speak English before they can be expected to learn anything. Nor will the high achievers in the class be "asked" to help this kid understand what's going on. It happens all the time. See ya.
ReplyDelete