The Forsyth County Republican Women’s Club listened to an angry speech on illegal immigration last night:

William Gheen, the president of Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, spoke to the Forsyth County Republican Women’s club at Forsyth Technical Community College’s West Campus.

Gheen said that illegal immigrants are corroding the social fabric of American communities and urged local leaders – including County Commissioners Gloria Whisenhunt, Debra Conrad and Bill Whiteheart, as well as Sheriff Bill Schatzman, all Republicans and who were at the meeting – to take action locally.

“I am mad,” Gheen said. “A lot of you are mad. A lot of people out there are mad, and we need to speak now.”

With that as a backdrop, Schatzman and Forsyth County commissioners are still at odds over whether or the sheriff’s department should participate in the federal program that trains local law enforcement in handling illegal immigrants. Forsyht’s situation is unique in that Schatzman is the resistant party:

…Schatzman has not committed to applying to the federal program, saying that the sheriff’s office does not have enough staff or jail space to accommodate the additional work. He said last night that if the federal government could help house illegal immigrants and staff the program he would be more interested in it.

Without his consent, commissioners cannot move forward with the application process.

“My position has never changed,” he said.

“My position is we will do what is feasible given the resources we have and the capacity that we have.”