Reports: Alien laws had effect on Carroll
By Laura Camper
The Times-Georgian
Posted: Sunday, October 7, 2007

After the new Georgia immigration regulations went into effect this summer, some familiar faces disappeared, according to the president of the Hispanic Business Council in Carroll County.

“I have seen a decline when I go to different restaurants and things, the service folks, some of them we used to know, …they’re not there anymore,” Jorge Gaytan said. “I think that the number of Hispanic folks who have worked in the service industry has declined here in Georgia in general and in Carrollton in particular. Even though it’s just been three months, I do see a change.”

Gaytan thinks the changes are because of some Hispanics leaving for other states and some being let go by their employers.
“We know of several families who have taken their things and have gone somewhere else because they feel that Georgia has the toughest laws,” he said. “Some of them just don’t want to leave because they have a lot of roots here already but their being let go by the employers.”

Gaytan also mentioned an increase in the number of raids by immigration officials – a reaction to talk of possible amnesty for some illegal immigrants, he thinks.

“We think they want to clean house in preparation of, if the federal government passes laws that would allow them to stay,” he said. “A lot of times, they are looking for folks who have a warrant for their arrest because they did something wrong. And I happen to agree with that. I think that folks that have done something wrong, that are criminals should be sent back.”
However, other people are being caught in the crossfire, he said.

Gylia Gonzalez of Latinos United of Carroll County also mentioned an increase of raids, including one at Azalea Place Apartments on Thursday.

However, the Carrollton police and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office have no record of such a raid and could not confirm that a raid took place. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not respond to questions about increased raids by press time.
Sheriff’s Capt. Shane Taylor said he could not remember the last time his agency dealt with an illegal alien.

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