Immigration bill aimed at sealing U.S. borders causes controversy on LI

There?s a growing concern Tuesday about a new immigration bill aimed at making it tougher for illegal immigrants to make a home on Long Island.Day laborer advocates say the bill, sponsored by Congressman

News 12 Staff

Jan 17, 2006, 10:46 PM

Updated 6,897 days ago

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There?s a growing concern Tuesday about a new immigration bill aimed at making it tougher for illegal immigrants to make a home on Long Island.Day laborer advocates say the bill, sponsored by Congressman Peter King (R-Seaford), could leave charity groups open for criminal charges. Sister Margaret Smyth of Riverhead says the bill would punish undocumented workers currently in the country. Smyth also says the bill is worded so broadly that even someone who gives a bag of food to an undocumented worker could be arrested.Among other things, the bill proposes building a nearly 700-mile long fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and taking citizenship away from children who are born in the U.S. if their parents are deported. King said the bill does not target any church or social agency, but he would consider changing the wording if enough people object to it.