$2 million in tax money going to CASA De Maryland

Immigration debate focuses on $2 million in tax money going to Md. aid organization

Jason Flanagan, The Examiner
2008-03-31 08:00:00.0
BALTIMORE -

Walter Abbott lost his house, his drywall company – twice – and now his freedom.
When he discovered Maryland funds pro-immigration group CASA de Maryland, he fired off an angry letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley containing a threat on the governor’s life.
“It was out of frustration,” Abbott said.

Now is he on home detention awaiting a trial. “[CASA] helps find them a job – an American’s job that they help take away. They took away my job,” said Abbott, 44, of Parkville.
Abbott epitomizes part of the hotly contested immigration debate.

Many people are furious that governments from the General Assembly to the city of Baltimore give millions of dollars to CASA de Maryland, which assists legal and illegal immigrants in finding work, social services and legal aid.

“The state cuts [Chesapeake] Bay funding in half but found millions for CASA’s new headquarters? That’s bordering on criminal if it’s not already criminal,” said Brad Botwin, director of Help Save Maryland, a group opposing illegal immigration.

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