At a weekend conference to discuss the impact of illegal immigration, politicians, candidates, and activists came to talk, share ideas, and show support for immigration reform. Inside the Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center, conference organizer and conservative local talk show host Curtis Wright, emceed. WHQR’s Rachel Lewis Hilburn has more from the conference.
Congressman Mike McIntyre, a guest speaker at the Saturday event, says illegal immigration has serious negative consequences for the state – including increased gang activity.
“I’ve worked with both Republican and Democratic sheriffs… on dealing – unfortunately -- with the gangs that some of our illegal immigrants are putting together. They feel like they can hide out in rural areas because there are not the financial or physical resources that perhaps many of the urban and suburban areas have.”
McIntyre is one of the original co-sponsors of the SAVE Act – an acronym for Secure America through Verification and Enforcement. A critical piece of that legislation, says McIntyre, would provide more resources to state and local law enforcement officials.
Other guest speakers at the iiImpact conference included former Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District, Ilario Pantano, State Representative Frank Iler, and State Senator Thom Goolsby.
