Orr for Governor 2008:: Press Release

Pat McCrory’s political rhetoric in trying to sound tough on illegal immigration doesn’t match his record as Mayor of Charlotte. I simply can not allow Mayor McCrory to continue to tout his leadership claims and hard line rhetoric on illegal immigration and go unchallenged when his years as mayor of Charlotte simply do not support his claims.

In a recent televised debate in Greenville McCrory stated that he had implemented contracts in Charlotte that in essence put contractors on notice that if they hired illegal immigrants they’d never do business again with the City. He then added that he would apply that policy as governor to anyone who did business with the state and hires illegal immigrants “[T]hat will be the last business they do with the state.” Unfortunately that pledge doesn’t match the facts in Charlotte during McCrory’s 12 years as mayor.

In an interview with the Charlotte Observer on June 4, 2006, McCrory admitted “Local governments, including Charlotte, are as guilty as the private sector in overlooking enforcement of laws while benefiting from the work of illegal immigrants. McCrory acknowledges undocumented workers likely had a role building Charlotte Bobcats Arena and expressed uncertainty about whether the NASCAR Hall of Fame could be completed within budget without illegal immigrant workers.” The construction of the Bobcats Arena and the ongoing construction of the NASCAR Hall of Fame are two of the signature projects for which Mayor McCrory takes credit.

McCrory has also recently been running TV spots proclaiming his tough stance on illegal immigrants, ending with “The difference is leadership.” So what has McCrory’s so-called leadership produced in Charlotte on the issue of illegal immigrants other than turning a blind eye to the City’s use of illegal workers? McCrory appointed a blue ribbon “Mayor’s Immigration Study Commission” which met for months to evaluate the impact of illegal immigrants on Charlotte and to make recommendations. The Commission issued its Report in January 2007 and among its recommendations was one to “Ensure all contracts and projects of the City…that utilize taxpayer funds do not support the employment of illegal immigrants. All contracts and construction projects should include a provision that employers will take specific steps to ensure the legal status of the workforce.”

Was that recommendation enacted? If so, has there been any City follow up to see what “specific steps” have been put in place and then implemented? Has anyone from the City checked to see if there are any illegal or undocumented workers currently helping to build the NASCAR Hall of Fame? If the difference is really about leadership then the Mayor needs to let us know what exactly he’s done to make sure there are no illegal immigrants working on contracts that benefit the City of Charlotte.

I am also concerned over the Mayor’s implicit support for the amnesty provision which was defeated in Congress. On October 2, 2006 the Charlotte Observer reported that a delegation from the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce visited Capitol Hill accompanied by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. The paper reported that the top talking-point appeared to be immigration reform. “The local chamber, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, favors comprehensive immigration reform that’s closer to the Senate-passed bill. That version combines tougher enforcement with a plan to provide a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants already here.”

My question is whether Mayor McCrory was on board with the Chamber on granting amnesty to illegal immigrants or did he demonstrate leadership and tell the Chamber members and the congressional representatives they met with that he opposed amnesty? It’s interesting to note that later when a faction of the Mayor’s Immigration Study Commission recommended an amnesty provision and admission to the community colleges and universities of the state for illegal immigrants, the Mayor was silent on his position as to those issues.

One last question is who actually should get credit for the 287G program in Mecklenburg County? There are those who think that former Sheriff Jim Pendergraph and Congresswoman Sue Myrick should get the credit for getting the program started but to hear Mayor McCrory, he’s the one who should get the credit. I don’t know the answer but maybe someone should find out.

The bottom line is this: Pat McCrory is telling the voters of North Carolina how tough he’ll be on illegal immigrants and touting his leadership as Mayor of Charlotte. But I don’t believe that his record on illegal immigration matches the political commercials and campaign promises we’re hearing. Before voters decide to send him to Raleigh, much less make him the Republican nominee for governor, maybe we need to set the record straight.

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