HAZLETON – Yesterday afternoon, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta mailed the following letter to Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and Senator John McCain.

The letter has also been sent via fax and/or e-mail to the respective campaigns.

Letter follows... 

Lou Barletta
Mayor of Hazleton

 March 13, 2008

Dear Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama:

On behalf of the citizens and elected leaders of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, I respectfully invite you to come to our great city to discuss the issue of illegal immigration in the United States.
    
Hazleton has been on the front line of this issue.   We have passed some of the toughest illegal immigration laws in the country.  Our fight to protect our citizens has made its way into the national spotlight and into the federal courts.  No matter what your position or voting record on illegal immigration, we want you to come to Hazleton to meet with our citizens and talk with our first responders, law enforcement, medical professionals and elected officials.

The issue of illegal immigration touches almost every aspect of our lives: local and national security, the cost of healthcare, diminishing wages for our workers, added strain on our educational systems and our overall quality of life.

And, according to 60 Minutes, “The real battle over illegal immigration is not at the Mexican border, it's in small cities like Hazleton, PA.” (Nov. 17, 2006)

Hazleton welcomes legal immigrants with open arms.  This city and this region were built on the backs of hard-working, God-fearing and law-abiding immigrants, however this city has made a stand against illegal immigration and the problems associated with the issue.

If you are interested in addressing the issue of illegal immigration then you must come to our city to hear our stories and learn how cooperation and effective leadership can work to correct the problem and how outside forces – primarily in Washington, D.C. – continue to work against our citizens.

We welcome you to come for a debate, a town meeting, a walking tour of our city or some other format of your choosing.  Come as a group or as individual Senators.  I expect you will be spending quite a bit of time in this wonderful Commonwealth over the next six weeks.  I implore you to set aside partisan politics and primary elections and come visit our great city.  

If you are serious about dealing with the issue of illegal immigration and would like take me up on my offer, please contact me directly on my personal cell phone.  The number is 570-XXX-XXXX.

Sincerely,
 (s) Lou
 Mayor Lou Barletta