Representing North Carolina’s Ninth District                                                                        

Myrick Announces Petition Drive To Bring An Immigration Court To Charlotte, NC

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (NC-9) held a press conference where she announced she has worked with several Congressional Leaders, including Rep. Charles Taylor (NC-11), to fund the expansion of the national immigration court system in a recently passed House bill.  Rep. Myrick has been working to bring an immigration court to North Carolina for many years, and this might be North Carolina’s last chance to get a court in the foreseeable future. 

 To ensure the Department of Justice makes the correct decision and places a court in North Carolina, Rep. Myrick announced she is starting a statewide petition drive.  People from around the state can go to Rep. Myrick’s website WWW.MYRICK.HOUSE.GOV and sign the petition.  All petitions will be delivered directly to the Department of Justice.  

 When the public goes to Rep. Myrick’s website to sign the petition, they will also see Rep. Myrick has created a comprehensive Illegal Immigration Action Plan.  This action plan has a number of action items people can do to help Rep. Myrick in her fight against illegal immigration.  They can also sign up for Rep. Myrick’s special immigration newsletter that will give them updates on illegal immigration issues Rep. Myrick is working on, as well as new action items. 

Rep. Myrick’s written remarks delivered at today’s press conference:

I’m here today, to announce a petition drive, aimed at US Department of Justice, for the purpose of placing an Immigration Court in Charlotte that will serve all of North Carolina. 

Recently, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that will provide the Department of Justice with additional funding for the specific purpose of establishing new immigration courts.

We need to be one of the new courts selected by the Department of Justice.

Many of you know my commitment to Charlotte getting an immigration court.  You have heard me document North Carolina’s need for a court.

North Carolina’s illegal alien population is estimated at 300,000 to 600,000.  This makes North Carolina home to the nation’s 8th largest population of illegal aliens.

Yet, of the ten states with the largest estimated populations of illegal aliens, North Carolina is the only one without an immigration court. 

In addition, there are 16 other states with lower illegal alien populations, yet they have an immigration court. 

North Carolina has also had a 273.7% increase in foreign-born population between 1990 and 2000.  And this doesn’t even include the boom we have experienced in the past 6 years.

If these statistics don’t prove we need an immigration court — I don’t know what does. 

I have met privately with Department of Justice officials several times on this issue.

I have publicly called on them to put a court in Charlotte that will serve North Carolina. 

I have worked with Congressional leaders, including Rep. Charles Taylor, to help fund the expansion of the national immigration court system so that the Department of Justice has the resources to put an immigration court in Charlotte.

And now, we have this chance to be one of the areas selected for a new immigration court.
And let me be clear, this might be the last chance we have in getting a court in the foreseeable future… 

That is why I am asking the people of  Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union Counties, my district, and residents of this entire region and state to sign a petition to help push the Department of Justice to make the right decision.

To help me in this cause, please go to my website www.myrick.house.gov to find the petition. 

You may also call my local office at 704-362-1060.  Simply ask for a copy of the petition, and my staff will mail you one.

When you go to my website to sign the petition, you will see that it is part of a comprehensive Illegal Immigration Action Plan that I have assembled. 

For those who call my office, we will likewise provide you will a copy of that plan.

Every time I talk about illegal immigration, people want to know how they can help. 

This Action Plan will let everyone know how they can help me in the fight against illegal immigration.

I will now take questions.   

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