ST. GEORGE - About 30 people stood across the street from the St. George city offices protesting illegal immigration Thursday morning.

John Bangerter, founder of the Con-cerned Cit- izen's Com-mittee, was leading the protest along with co-foun-der Eddie Zawacki.

"We had the protest today because it's near election and here because we're trying to draw attention to the city officials and police department," Bangerter said. Zawacki agreed.

"We hope to bring awareness to the City Council members," she said. They should take action on businesses that are hiring illegals. These laws are in place but they're not being enforced."

Some of the concerns people voiced at the protest were about employment, medical care, police officers enforcing identity checks and criminal activity.

Steve St. Laurent, a protester, said some of his children and grandchildren have lost their $12-15 per hour jobs to Hispanics.

"Because of all the (racial epithet) that rolled in they (St. Laurent's kids and grandkids) can't make but $8-10 per hour," he said. "They're (Hispanics) turning the heart of our city into a toilet."

Lynda McDonald, a protester, agreed.

"Employers are just greedy, they'll fire anyone in a minute," she said. "They like going for the lowest bidder."

Marc Mortensen, assistant to the St. George city manager, commented on the employment issue.

"We've got 2 percent (unemployment), how do you get better than that?" he said.

Mortensen added the city doesn't condone illegal immigration.

"We follow those laws that are in place," he said. "We are absolutely not a sanctuary city - anyone who says we are is incorrect."

Mortensen said St. George officials are doing everything they can within the law to comply with state and federal law.

McDonald said she blames government officials for the immigration problem.

St. Laurent agreed.

"A major problem we face in this country is our politicians and the politicians in Mexico," he said. "This country that these people are coming from is a toilet because their politicians are robbing them blind."

Several of the protesters agreed the United States has the laws to keep out illegal immigrants but they aren't enforced.

"That's all we have to do is enforce what's already here," McDonald said.

St. Laurent said police officers should check peoples' I.D.

St. George Police Chief Marlon Stratton addressed protesters' concerns about identification checks.

"We have to have suspicion to confront, and we don't just approach without cause," he said. "That's a violation of Constitutional rights."

Stratton added there's no question that Hispanics commit crimes in the area.

"But so do Caucasians, Asians, blacks and so on," he said.