Debate on immigrants continues
By Cheryl Harvey

MANASQUAN — At Monday night’s council meeting here, Mary Ryan, of 113 Beachfront, explained to the council how she was offended by an advertisement published in The Coast Star by Ted Mechnick, a member of the United Patriots of America and a Monmouth County resident.

The paid advertisement in the newspaper discussed the issue of why possible illegal immigrants are allowed to stand in the Manasquan Acme parking lot and look for illegal employment. The ad invited Manasquan residents concerned about the possible illegal immigration to come out and voice their opinion at the council meeting.

Mrs. Ryan did come out to voice her opinion. However, her opinion did not support Mr. Mechnick’s cause. Mrs. Ryan explained how she grew up in Manasquan and has owned property here since 1980. “I love this community and I felt that the letter was degrading,” she said.

She stated that she thought it was an injustice to accuse people of being illegal immigrants without having proof. She said she found it distasteful when people with banners are yelling on the street to get rid of illegal immigrants. She was referencing the recent protesters on Main Street who are trying to gain support to stop what they feel is an influx of illegal immigrants into New Jersey, and the nation.

Mrs. Ryan said that she believes people need to stop stereotyping and let the federal government figure out a humane resolution.

Jack Welsch, 48 Parker Ave., said that he was completely opposed to what Mrs. Ryan had said.

“What I would like to see is what this has done to the town with taxes?” He explained that with the extra police, schools and healthcare needed to support illegal immigrants, taxes are going to increase.

“All I want is for people who live here to pay taxes,” he said. “I’m tired of paying the tab.”

Mr. Welsch asked the council if it could determine what the local police are legally allowed to do regarding the situation.

Luis Russo, 101 Mount Ln., voiced his concern as a new resident of Manasquan. He asked “what number does it have to come to?” in reference to the groups of men that gather in front of the Acme early in the morning looking for work. “I’m from Long Island, N.Y.” he said, “and when we’d stand around loitering and we were told to get out, we did.”

Mr. Russo was concerned about the issue of public safety. “When 40 men get together, something is eventually going to happen,” he stated. He also voiced his concern over property values decreasing because of the issue.

Mr. Mechnick, of Wall Township, who paid for the advertisement in the The Coast Star, said that his concern was not just for Manasquan, but for the country. He said that he was not discriminating and that his agenda was simply for people who do not belong in this country to be deported.

Mr. Mechnick addressed how the Hazleton City Council in Pennsylvania was handling the illegal immigration problem. This past July, the council there passed a law that would penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants and the landlords who rent to them. Mr. Mechnick said that he is a strong believer in immigration since his grandparents came over on a boat, but he expressed his angst when people have no desire to assimilate into society.

He said he is upset with the mentality that “we’re going to use your social system and not give anything back. My hope is that the town does something.”

Council President Ron Jacobson said after the meeting that the council has been aware of the issue for over a year now, but it is a matter that is larger than the town council. He said that it is up to the federal government to handle and said residents who are really concerned about the issue need to address it with their congressman and the governor.

“It’s a tough issue to enforce,” Councilman Jacobson said. He explained how the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will not take action until there is a significant crime that one of the alleged illegal immigrants was responsible for committing.

He also explained the hardship that the town would have if it took action similar to the city council in Hazleton, who have taken legal action to revoke the business license of any employer who hires an illegal immigrant. Since Manasquan does not issue permits or mercantile licenses to business owners, it would be difficult to carry out the same enforcement. Councilman Jacobson said that he believes that this is more of a national issue then a council issue.

In a letter presented to the Mayor and Council from Manasquan Chief of Police Daniel Scimeca regarding the Borough of Manasquan’s policy in dealing with suspected illegal aliens seeking work as day laborers, the chief stated that local law enforcement has the resources and the jurisdiction to enforce local ordinances and N.J. state criminal and traffic statutes. However, immigration laws fall under the jurisdiction of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), a federal agency. The letter explained that while the Manasquan Police Department has “assisted” I.C.E. in the past, the decision to detain or prosecute illegal immigrants is a decision made by the federal agency. The letter explained how in the past, when the Manasquan Police have arrested an undocumented alien for a violation of a New Jersey criminal statute and contacted the Immigration Enforcement Agency, they have declined to prosecute or hold the illegal alien unless they have committed a serious criminal offense.

In the letter from Chief Scimeca, he explained how he had been asked by anti-immigrant groups to prosecute businesses that hire illegal aliens. The letter states that the primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute these types of offenses falls with the federal and state agencies.

Chief Scimeca said on June 28 he attended a meeting of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs and the Monmouth County Prosecutor at which he discussed the concern of anti-immigrant groups and individuals who are requesting the police department take action against laborers.

Chief Scimeca said he asked Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin if attempting to identify day laborers who are illegal immigrants or targeting motorists who pick up day laborers could be considered racial profiling — which is a prohibited action. Prosecutor Valentin said that he and his staff would research those questions and get back to him.

Chief Scimeca stated in the letter that until the Manasquan Police Department receives direction from the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office, the N.J. Attorney General’s Office or the federal government, it will continue to only enforce existing state and local laws that fall within Manasquan’s jurisdiction and within the police department’s ability to investigate.