Trenton City Council blasted over illegal immigrants, The Trentonian News Paper

By L.A. PARKER   © Copyright 2010 The Trentonian,
Staff Writer

TRENTON — A self-proclaimed community activist promised a fight Tuesday night when he accused city officials of taking it easy on illegal immigrants.

Daryl Brooks unleashed a torrent of complaints and alleged that Trenton police officers were soft on an illegal immigrant driver following an automobile accident yesterday.

“This is crazy,” Brooks said while addressing Trenton’s City Council. “Illegal immigrants can come here and do just about whatever they want. And we have political leaders allowing this to happen.”

Brooks alleged that police allowed an unlicensed and illegal immigrant to drive away.

“If I had been that driver then I would have been in jail,” Brooks said.

“We’ve got a real problem with illegal immigrants in Trenton but nobody wants to say or do anything about it.”

Carlos Avila, a former South Ward city councilman candidate, sympathized with Brooks’ position.

“I think Daryl’s frustrations are legitimate. Our immigration laws are broken and the situation as is affects a lot of people in this country. Darryl is incorrect to think that this is a local problem. But the problem must be solved at the national level,” Avila reasoned.

Avila agreed that illegal immigration puts many people at risk.

“Especially the illegal immigrant who basically lives in fear. People who are here without documents live in the shadows. If they see someone shot then they don’t come forward. If something happens to them, they don’t come forward,” he said.

Brooks promised to start a local version of the Minuteman Project, an activist organization of private U.S. citizens who monitor illegal immigration.

Co-founded by Jim Gilchrist, the group keeps a watch on the United States-Mexico border.

Avila said Brooks has every right to his anger but should support reform instead of retaliation.

“If he wants to start a Minuteman group that’s his prerogative but that sounds controversial. That sounds like let’s go to war or let’s bear arms. Or let’s take matters into our own hands. Violence will only create more violence and divide our community,” Avila said.

“It’s not resistance groups or organizations that will help or solve the problem of illegal immigration. We all need to work together to organize for change because it affects all of us regardless of race or political persuasion.”

© Copyright 2010 The Trentonian,