Watch CBS News

Immigration Seminar Held In Camden

By Dan Wing

CAMDEN, N.J., (CBS) -- Officials from Camden County, federal government, and a number attorneys took part in a public information and advice session regarding immigration laws and immigration reform.

With a large Hispanic community at 17 percent and growing, County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez says the meeting was designed to help get people up to date on current immigration laws, and where reform measures stand. But Rodriguez says it also helps officials.

"Provide a voice so others can hear where the needs are, and where they lay," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and other officials involved hoped to ease any worries over deportation, a main concern in the community, and to make sure that people are clear on where they stand. Rodriguez says the way current laws are set some people who have been in the U.S. for a long time aren't aware of their illegal status which can have terrible outcomes.

"Some of them don't even realize they don't have the documentation. All of a sudden they go out and fight for this country, go to war for us, and then they come back and they find out 'hey, guess what you're not a citizen. We're going to send you back.' And they don't even know that country," Rodriguez said.

A main reform measure that Rodriguez and other officials at the session would like to see moving forward is a more concrete and well-defined path to citizenship, and updating the laws to reflect a more modern view of the world.
Must Read Today's Top Stories

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.