Reaction to a proposed bipartisan immigration reform plan received a wary reception from locals who said it may at least be a move in the right direction.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, a longtime proponent of stronger immigration laws, said the proposal includes tightening the country’s border, “but the proof is in the pudding.”

Jones said he has never been against those who enter the country legally, but the estimated 11 million currently in the country illegally are taking jobs from Americans and utilizing the country’s already strapped social services programs.

“No matter what is done, you cannot stop everyone from coming here illegally,” Jones said “There have got to be penalties for employers who hire them.”

He said creating some type of system that allows employers to check for legal status would be a good step.

“But if it is going to be the honor system, then it is just a shell game,” the sheriff said.

Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese studies at Miami University, who is an advocate for Butler County’s Hispanic community, said the proposal looks “pretty positive.”

“I would say we are encouraged but cautious,” Bromberg said, noting this is the first serious proposal in years. “That is a good sign and it is also a sign of the power of the Latino community in this country in a good way.”

In the past four years the borders have been secured, and Bromberg noted in some ways that has been detrimental to the country because it has cut down on those who go back and forth across the the border legally for employment.

“There are many who would like to have the ability to have circular employment,” Bromberg said.

Jones said he has not gotten as many calls about illegal workers in the area in recent years because there are no jobs.

No jobs mean they are either returning to their home country or illegally looking for free government services or turning to crime, Jones said.

“I think they (Washington senators) are going in the right direction,” Jones said. “But it is not because the Republicans think it is the right thing to do. It is because they took a butt whoopin in the last election and they will do anything to get elected.”

Most officials said it is too early to really evaluate the proposal, especially since President Barack Obama is scheduled to layout his reform plan today,.

“At this point, I am not prepared to make a statement of support or opposition. We need to see more details,” said Ohio Rep. Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton). “The parts of the proposed agreement that are of most importance, we are not seeing enough details of. Until we get serious about securing our boarders to actually stifle the flow of illegal immigrants into this country and we get serious about employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, any legislation passed would do little to solve this problem.”

Butler County Commissioner T.C. Rogers said the latest proposal is one of many over the years, and time will tell if it is implemented.

“The problem is not the hard working people who come here legally. The problem is the people who come over here and don’t work then take advantage of government services,” Rogers said.

Those in this country illegally should not get to move to the front of the line when it comes to getting legal papers, Jones said.

“It takes years for people who do it legally to get here. Illegal aliens do not get to go to the beginning of the line,” he said.