Verbal diarrhea affects legislator during immigration debate

Guess which U.S. area this legislator is from based on this quote:

“Legislator Elie Mystal said he ‘would load up my gun and start shooting’ if dozens of immigrants were congregating along streets in his neighborhood looking for work.”

No, not the deep South or a “red state.”

Try Suffolk County, New York. A proverbial stone’s throw from New York City.

Hispanic Tips clues us in to a contentious debate on an anti-loitering bill yesterday that was considered by critics as an anti-immigrant measure. Apparently things became so heated during the debate that Legislator Mystal- who emigrated from Haiti several years ago- made his irresponsible remark over immigrants which he later apologized for.

Suffolk County (and Long island, for that matter) has seen a boom in its immigrant population-both legal and illegal- over the past decade. County legislators have advocated strong anti-immigrant measures such as placing federal agents in the County jail to facilitate deporting illegal immigrants. In response to the politicians, a wide range of local groups such as the Catholic Church, Latino rights activists, and business groups have expressed their strong opposition to such proposals. Ultimately, the status quo wins out and this benefits nobody regardless of what they feel about immigration.

Note: the above image comes from the 2004 documentary “Farmingville” which discusses the immigration debate on Long Island. It is a must-see film if you’re interested on what is (and isn’t being done) on immigration.

Links- Hispanic Tips, Newsday, WNYC, amNY

Image- PBS