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Columbia-Montour VT at Northwest

<h3>Diverse panel at Notre Dame examines issue that has drawn attention to Hazleton’s mayor.</h3>
<p class="small">By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@www.timesleader.com
Staff Writer</p>

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta held his own in a live forum Monday at the University of Notre Dame in which he and three other panelists debated illegal immigration.

And while the two-term Republican mayor had previously expressed many of his views on national TV shows and at many speaking engagements across the state, he did address a few new topics, such as how his Roman Catholic faith affects his views on illegal immigration.

“I am a man of faith, and this has been a very troubling issue for me as a person, as an individual, in dealing with and questioning my role as a leader in the community and what my own heart would like to do,” Barletta said.

Tim Matovina, professor of theology at Notre Dame, was the forum coordinator. Because the immigration debate is playing out at the national, state and local levels, and that Notre Dame is a Catholic university, Matovina said a diverse panel was chosen.

The university broadcast the live debate on its Web site from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday. Panelists in addition to Barletta included Gov. Janet Napolitano, D-Arizona; U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida; and Roger Cardinal Michael Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles.

In his opening remarks, Mahony said illegal immigration is “not just a legal, social and economic issue, it’s a humanitarian issue.” He said members of the church have a “moral imperative” to assist and show compassion towards all immigrants – documented and undocumented.

The panelists discussed a videotaped interview with an illegal immigrant named Alma Sandoval, who has been sending money to her homeland to pay for her daughter’s education and is likely to be deported.

They agreed reform is needed to allow immigrants such as Sandoval to “come out of the shadows” and let them to work towards citizenship.

Barletta said there’s “another part of this debate … the faceless people who … have lost their jobs. … The ones who are mostly affected by illegal immigration are legal immigrants who are at the lower end of the economic ladder who are being replaced by illegal aliens who are willing to work for less. Who’s fighting for them?”

Barletta said later in the debate that crime victims of illegal immigrants deserve compassion as well, noting that a 6-year-old Hazleton girl was raped by an illegal immigrant.

“I have compassion for her and her mother as well. This … issue is heart-wrenching on both sides, and we could spend forever trading stories of those who have been affected, those who came to America for a better life, and those that became innocent victims of others that came here illegally,” Barletta said.

Panelists responded to questions from several students, including Kingston native and Bishop O’Reilly High School alumnus John Corgan.

Corgan said several local towns considered passing ordinances similar to Hazleton’s.

"Often these towns with names like Forty Fort and Nanticoke are already economically troubled and can hardly afford the financial and legal consequences associated with such an ordinance," Corgan said.

"With this in mind, what is the overall effect of one city’s illegal immigration ordinance upon its neighbors?" Corgan asked.

Barletta answered first, saying it was "nice to see a fellow Northeastern Pennsylvanian here at Notre Dame."

The mayor then noted that Hazleton had been sued to have the ordinance struck down, and that the plaintiff attorneys are seeking $2.4 million in legal fees after a federal judge found in the plaintiffs’ favor in August.

"That obviously would bankrupt a city such as Hazleton, and economically-distressed cities could never withstand that kind of law bill. So Hazleton’s battle becomes a battle for so many other cities across the United States," Barletta said.

Suarez asked Barletta to address how Hazleton’s ordinances might affect cities such as Nanticoke and Forty Fort if Hazleton’s ordinance is "pushing (illegal immigrants) out."

"It’s a ripple effect. It’s like a puddle. If you step into the puddle, the water is going to splash outward. And unfortunately, many illegal aliens will just pick up and move … down the road to the next community," Barletta said.

The mayor said it was a "lack of enforcement on the federal level" that has "put some local municipalities in the corner as to how we protect … the people in our community. … How do you tell them there is nothing you can do and watch your city being drained of its resources?"

Napolitano said that "in the absence of comprehensive federal immigration reform, states and cities are now moving independently. … It is better public policy to have one uniform immigration law that is uniformly enforced."

Barletta asked what would be done about "sanctuary cities. Once there is one law, how do you address cities where the elected officials refuse to enforce federal laws?"

Martinez said federal laws "would supercede any local laws, mayor. But ... communities, before they pass laws, need to think about the consequences. The mayor lost a lawsuit in court. If he in fact lost, the other side is entitled to attorneys' fees. He's talking now about a $2.4 million judgment that could be levied against the city. ... It could bankrupt the city. These are the consequences of acting in a way that, frankly, may not be in the city's best interest in the long run."

"Maybe the better way is to deal with the problem as a law enforcement issue and not as an immigration issue. And maybe the better way of course would be at the end of the day for us in the federal government to get our act together and be able to pass a comprehensive bill," Martinez said.

"Who would not want to stop a citizen from being shot between the eyes?" Barletta responded, referring to the May 2006 shooting of city resident Derek Kichline. Two illegal immigrants were charged in that murder.

"If I could stop crimes from being committed, obviously I would do that. Small cities work with a very small budget. And it becomes impossible at times when you're overrun by problems such as illegal immigration. .. I don't believe we can (deal with the problem as a law enforcement issue) without the federal government doing what it should," Barletta said.

"But if the federal government won't, what would you do if you were the mayor? Would you sit back and watch your city being destroyed? I'm one that can't. I took an oath of office and I will protect all the citizens in our community. And unfortunately, I feel that I didn't have a choice," Barletta said.

&nbsp;
<p class="tagline"><em>Steve Mocarsky</em>, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 831-7311.</p>

Barletta talks faith, immigration views