"Illegal Immigration is..... ILLEGAL"
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 10:51AM 
My friend and I went downtown yesterday to the state capital in Columbia, SC, to protest and observe the immigration rally, which was one of many that took place across the country. It was staged and neatly packaged as an “Immigration Rally”, but it was a pro-illegal immigration rally. The point of conflict is the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437) being considered in the Congress and Senate, which Hillary Clinton called “mean spirited”, one that would criminalize both Jesus and the Good Samaritan. (read the bill)
It’s clear to see why ILLEGAL immigrants would hate this bill. It’s also clear why Democrats are equally opposed to it; a party who lobbies to restore voting rights to convicted felons has to find votes where they can.
There were probably 4,000 Latinos, many of which were illegals, touting prepared signs such as “We Build Your Houses”, “We Are America”, “The Piligrims were Illegal Immigrants”, “Legalize, Don’t Criminalize”. The speakers chastised America for her “oppression of minorities” enforcing her laws, or even suggesting such a thing. SC-Dem Jim Clyburn compared his past arrest during the civil rights movement as an African American with the protection against arrest for these illegals as a good thing, boasting that not one illegal would be arrested this day. He also compared the day’s rally to the riots of France, boasting that just as they forced back the unjust laws of France, this protest would force back the laws of America. Sickening.
The State reported:
When U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told the crowd people would not be arrested at the rally Monday no matter their legal status, a woman standing on Assembly Street yelled, “That’s because the police are being prevented from enforcing the law.”
Ruth Russell was among about five counter-protesters flanking the rally.
“The amount they put into Social Security is not near the amount that they pull out for education, health services, law enforcement and court services,” said Russell, 44, whose husband is stationed at Fort Jackson.
She held a sign that read, “Illegal immigration is illegal.”
Russell doesn’t buy arguments for loosening immigration on the grounds that people will enter the country no matter what laws are in place.
“It’s akin to saying, ‘Let’s give them condoms because they’re going to have sex anyway,’” she said.
OBSERVATIONS:
-there were Mexican flags
-there were upside down American flags
-these “poor immigrants” were unusually well dressed for such a suffering, oppressed bunch
-During one of their chants in Spanish of “Yes, we can! Yes, we can!”, a friend retorted, “No, you can’t! No, you can’t!” We were accosted by group of young Mexicans, one of whom yelled at us, “Yes we can! Suck my ****!” “Nice”, I responded, “we want THAT in America.”
-there was a Muslim presence in the group
-there were men signing “immigrants” up to vote
-Ruth was called a “racist” for being against ILLEGAL immigration
-both hispanics and blacks compared the immigration problem to slavery and lynching of blacks
-the disconnect between obeying the law and illegals openly demanding constitutional rights as if they were citizens was dumbfounding
PHOTOS:
-Ruth being interviewed by ABC News
-Steps of the State Capital
-Student and the priest (oddly, this young college speaker talked about how her parents legally migrated to the US and all the benefits she reaped as a result)
-Illegals trying to look American
-He made MY house?
-I’ll pick my own veggies, thanks
-Upside down US flags ignored by the media
-Could it be a sign??
-Jaywalking illegals (poignancy is watching illegals break the traffic laws! [note the don’t walk sign] They continually dodged in between vehicles until the police asked very nicely that the walk in the cross walks)
-While taking a photo of a Mexican with an upside down US flag tucked in his hat, his lady friend saw me taking the photo, quickly snatched the flag from his hat, repositioned it right side up as my view was purposely blocked by another illegal)
-Believe it or not, these guys were REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE!!
-Voice of reason
-Mexican flag
This rally was pretentious. The organizers instructed participants to wear white (for peace), supplied American flags, and to behave themselves. At the initial phase of the protesting in March, this is what the illegals were REALLY saying. I’m not buying the make over.
I love this country. I welcome immigrants. Maybe it’s because I know what other countries less fortunate than our own are like or because my husband serves in the United States military around the world and is sworn to uphold the Constitution and obey the orders of the Commander in Chief that I understand that US CITIZENS should revere these rights… and that illegals have no right to exploit American privileges. Because I love the US, I obey her laws. It’s an easy concept.
Previous Posts:
What Illegal Immigrants are ‘Saying’
Jesus, Mary & Hillary
Others blogging:
Michelle Malkin Expose the Left Sister Toldjah Iowa Voice Conservababes Aloha Daze Flopping Aces
Trackback URL:
http://amyproctor.squarespace.com/blog/trackback/437073
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (41)
I want our borders protected and I believe every person, regardless of what race or country they come from, should be documented, what is so wrong with that? How can America stay safe if we allow everyone to just come in? What about terrorists or anyone bringing in illegal drugs or weapons?
I agree with Bill O'Reilly we need to secure our borders and every person that comes into this country needs to be DOCUMENTED, no exceptions, if they don't want to be, then they shouldn't be allowed in, if they are here, they need to get some paperwork started or get deported, period.
Yeah, I know I sound redundant, but it has to be said.
I took these types of jobs when I was a teenager as did many of my friends. I was brought up with the belief and value of hard, honest work. That is the problem with our teenagers today. People would do this type of work and be proud of their accomplishments, and move up.
These are mostly good, decent people, including many Catholics. The crisis is one of law enforcement, not law. Obviously our immigration policy has no teeth at all and the time to begin clamping down on illegal immigration is not after 11 million people move here. The genie is out of the bottle and there is enormous blame to go around: The Presidents (Clinton and Bush), Congress, state legislatures, law enforcement, the Mexican government, NAFTA, American farmers, businessmen and enterpreneurs, NIS, Mexican border escorts (illegal border crossing agents), the list goes on and on. I find it difficult to lay all the penalty soley on the shoulders of the illegals. They have not acted alone or in a vacuum. This is a massive failure of biblical proportions to enforce existing law and it was fueled no doubt by agriculture, industry and business that benefitted from cheap, undocumented labor. Any application of law enforcement that is not evenly spread to all the participants will fall short of justice in my opinion.
As a nation we have failed miserably to uphold the rule of law. It is not completely fair to blame the illegals who have been all but welcomed, heck, INVITED to come here and be an unoffical member of our republic. What remains now is to act honorably toward the entire republic with special deference toward LEGAL immigrants, many whom have passed through enormous difficulty to earn citizenship.
I was a soldier in Joint Task Force 190 (10th Mountain Division) that invaded Haiti in 1994 to bring down a rogue regime that was driving its citizens to hazard the Caribbean sea to illegally enter the United States. That seems foolish now when we have allowed millions to penetrate our borders with impunity.
I do not pretend to know the answer, but neither border control without an integration plan for illegals, nor a plan to integrate them without border control will be satisfactory.
While we may appear to be great humanitarians in the short run by our soft position toward illegals, the Rule of Law has suffered a critical blow that will not heal easily.
It is ALREADY against the law to enter the United States illegally, punishable by a fine and imprisonment. It is ALREADY against the law to hire illegal aliens. We don't need new immigration laws, we only need the current laws to be enforced - and a fence. Read on: Learn the facts about illegal immigration that every American should know.
FACT: “Immigrants” are people lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. "Illegal aliens” are people who enter the United States without permission; their presence in the United States violates the law.
FACT: United States Code, Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, Section 1325, states: “Any alien who enters the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be fined or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.”
FACT: United States Code, Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, Section 1324a, states: “It is unlawful for a person or other entity to hire for employment in the United States, an alien, knowing the alien is an unauthorized alien…”
FACT: In 2006, jobs, elementary school education, drivers licenses, in-state college tuition, bank accounts, food stamps, health care, and even home ownership, are all offered to illegal aliens. Some city councils are even considering letting illegal aliens vote in elections because they have children in public schools. The states of Washington, California, New York, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah provide in-state college tuition rates to illegal aliens; other states are considering the same tuition policy. Several states grant drivers licenses to illegal aliens, ignoring the fact that driver’s licenses are used as a form of ID nationwide. In a few instances, illegal aliens received expensive organ transplant surgery free of charge, and they were placed ahead of tax-paying Americans on the waiting list for the scarce organs. Realtors and lenders in several cities have been known to help illegal aliens purchase homes. Several American cities have become sanctuaries for illegal aliens: In 2003, Seattle’s City Council passed an ordinance preventing the city’s police from questioning the immigration status of people they meet on the streets. For aliens crossing America’s southwest border illegally, water-stations are provided to make the trip through the desert easier. Humanitarian groups placed the water stations along known illegal alien smuggling routes in the Arizona desert.
FACT: In June 2003, the United States Park Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police announced the “Ten Most Dangerous National Parks in the United States.” Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona, Amistad National Recreation Area in Texas, and Big Bend National Park in Texas, claimed the top three positions because of the high volume of illegal alien smuggling activity in those parks. At Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the rangers estimated that 250 violent drug smugglers and illegal aliens march through the park and public campground areas each night.
FACT: In April 2005, a group of U.S. citizens calling themselves “Minutemen” went to the U.S.-Mexico border to observe illegal aliens entering the country and turn them over to the U.S. Border Patrol. The Minutemen proved that illegal immigration could be stopped by placing more guards on America’s borders, but President George W. Bush derided the efforts of the Minutemen by calling them “vigilantes.”
FACT: In 2006, it is estimated that more than 12 million illegal aliens reside in the United States. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security said that it apprehended 1,046,422 illegal aliens, but experts said that nearly 3 million people illegally entered the United States that year. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security officially reported that there were approximately 7 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States, and that 67 percent of them, or 4,690,000 people, had entered the United States without being stopped or questioned. They had entered the country illegally by sneaking across the border. Source: “Yearbook of Immigration Statistics,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2002, 2003.
FACT and OPINION: It took only 19 people to destroy the World Trade Center and kill nearly 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001. Americans can’t afford to allow millions of people to illegally cross U.S. borders and reside in the United States on the assumption that most of them are just “migrant workers.” Allowing and encouraging illegal immigration to the United States, especially after 9/11, is dangerous and foolhardy.
Thank you.
Michael S. Class
Web Site: www.MagicPictureFrame.com
Blog: www.magicpictureframe.blogspot.com
I feel like a chump. My wife (who is a legal immigrant from Africa) and I obeyed the law and came here after a lot of time, expense and paperwork on our part, only to watch the illegals get the red carpet treatment from the MSM and the Democrats.
I need to plead ignorance on a lot about US law, but some touted solutions which include "send them all home now" I have been deeply offended by. Yes, that would be legal. No, it wouldn't be possible to do it except by almost Stalinist measures. Consider the inevitable cases of legitimate citizens with mislaid documents being deported. Realistically, some kind of compromise is essential. Then, either enforce the law you have, or set up a law which you are capable/willing to enforce. It is always ridiculous to me when laws exist but forgotten. In the UK with our long history, there are loads of arcane laws to do with carrying your sword properly, beating dust out of your rugs etc. Sort it out!
I should also say that being a minority does not innoculate you against racism. I know this, personally. I wasn't there and I don't know how the demonstration looked in general, but I'd say that seeking out the worst behaviour (eg. the man who swore at you) and painting the whole group with that same dirty brush is a bit prejudicial. But I don't know, maybe that really was representative.
But of course the Democrats are for this. They've elected a whoppin' one President in the past twenty years, of course they can see the writing on the wall!
"Give us your tired, your poor, your weak, your huddled masses". Maybe we should've added "but you can keep your thieves".
I thought of you when I was writing this and hoped it wouldn't offend. I'm glad you agree about the law. It seems to me that people who truly love America don't try to break the law, or demand rights; we revere our fortune of being here and respectfully submit to the laws. Even the dumb ones and the red tape ones. I don't think I've ever said, "I demand my rights." I'm blessed to be an American and access my rights with great respect. I think you do, too.
I called the guy here locally who comes on after Rush Limbaugh to tell him what I observed downtown at the rally. He kept saying throughout his show, "You can't just arrest them all, put them on a bus and drop them off at the border. My question is, why not? Why are the rights of born Americans, naturalized Americans and those like Mwalimu Daudi's wife not the priority? Lots of the immigrants here say that their parents brought them here and it's not their fault.... it's not the rest of our fault, either, and the choice should be: 1) return with your child to your country. 2) return without your naturalized child to your country. Two wrongs do not make a right.
I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone during the rally. State Senators and Congressmen applauding the riots in France, saying that those at the rally are like them and will have the same success? Did the state senator SEE the riots? I did. My son did. Oh, yes, the French youth drinking out of beer and wine bottles then throwing them at law enforcement.... the middle finger galore.... I saw at least 7-10 young guys moon the authorities (the French have very white, very round hineys, I've learned). The rebellion and disgrace was a shame for them. The arrogance at the rally Monday was the same attitude. I felt like buying some pot and smoking it openly... why not? The entire atmosphere was illegal, on what basis could I be arrested?
I'm not sure I agree with my hubby. I don't buy that illegals are mostly good people. If they were, certainly they wouldn't be flaunting it, even if they felt they HAD to break the law to survive. They're using this as a "if my family were starving, would it be wrong to steal a loaf of bread?" issue and it is NOT.
Where's the outrage over the poor Cubans who so desperately want to leave their country that they pile their little kids onto a crappy boat to make it to America? Why are these people not being taken a stand for? And they will be punished when they return.
I do agree however that it is a law enforcement problem. However, this is like a drug problem: I believe in prosecuting both the supplier AND the user. We're way too light on the users in this country, so there will always be suppliers. All the blame cannot be laid at the feet of the illegals, I agree, but they are certainly exploiting America's weakness and then making demands upon it.
Part of the failure Johnny expressed about the law was evidenced at the rally. Thousands of illegals standing around tempting the law.. even the state politicians said, "You will not be arrested! We've come a long way, baby!" Unbelievable. When the hell do I get to do that? I've never broken the law in my life because I respect it, and all these illegals flaunt and celebrate their illegal status. It was very confusing.
I parked in my usual location and made my way up Gervais street to join the crowd. Before I got too far into the group, I was accosted by an ABC cameraman who asked if I would speak with him. I obliged and he was very polite and respectful in his questioning. As I was speaking a moonbat talking loudly on a cell phone leaned in near the camera and said, " There are a thousand people here and they are interviewing the one racist." To this the cameraman even rolled his eyes. He apologized and said there were three other cameras interviewing protesters and he was the only one assigned to the opposing point of view. I mentioned that the race comment was typical. I said that in Arizona a proposition to forbid state funding for illegals' services was voted for overwhelmingly by LEGAL Hispanics. This was not a race issue. I refuted the following statements: "1. illegals are helpful to America by doing jobs no American will take,2. They help the economy, and 3. They pay taxes but can't collect Social security"
My statements:
1. Illegals do take numerous skilled positions AND if the illegals didn't drive down the wage, Americans would take the jobs.
2.If having lots of unskilled laborers was helpful to an economy, Mexico would have a booming economy.
3.They may pay social security they don't collect on, but illegals cost far more in social services, medical services, education, etc. than they ever put in the system.
I noticed a young skinny pale curly haired lad with plaid seersucker pants holding a sign that said " we pick your vegetables" This guy looked like the last thing he might have picked was a nose. I asked what it was he picked. He sneered at me and said his grandparents were migrant workers. "Really," I asked, " we they LEGAL aliens?" He refused to answer. A woman was holding a sign that read " Who is not an immigrant?" "I'm not and my husband is not" I answered. With a very thick accent, she asked where I went to school. I queried what that had to do with anything. "Perhaps they did not do a good job in social studies. You don't know what an immigrant is." "Sweetie," I replied, " I TEACH social studies. I know what an immigrant is and I am not one. I have ancestors who WERE LEGAL immigrants."
Across the street was a lone young man with a huge flag. (The old SC state flag with the bars and stars) He stayed across the street the entire time and didn’t say boo to anyone.
I saw a student who attends my school. In Spanish, I heard people around me talking about the fact that I teach school. While I strive to keep my personal beliefs separate from my students, I can’t help it if they show up to a demonstration. I have every right to my free speech when not working, but I felt bad knowing that as a youngster, he would not understand the entire situation. He eyed my sign “ Illegal immigration is ILLEGAL”. Patently obvious and hard to argue with, but it still drew a frown. I felt bad for all of two minutes until his friend came over to me and said “ suck my dick” . Boy they really are sending over the best and brightest aren’t they?
I listened to Rep Clyburn –D speak fondly of the “advances immigrants are making in France” ( UUUMMMM would that be the car burning or window smashing?) Rep Clyburn also announced “how far America has come in that no one would be arrested today” (UUUUMMM that is because the authorities are hogtied to do so)
I watched dozens of aliens jaywalk at the intersection and cut between cars. Why be surprised when laws are irrelevant that laws are ignored?
Two black men, one I recognized as a local Democrat official, were registering people to vote. They claimed to only be registering legal citizens although they are not allowed to ask for proof of citizenship!! HMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
A young man with a sign that read, “enforce the law, deport illegals now” was harassed because of his “Seattle grunge look”. Some Mexicans were calling him homeless boy, laughing and saying they had more money than him.” ( Earned in which country?)
Organizers handed out American flags to ensure that the criticism of the in your face Mexican flags was avoided, yet I saw numerous Mexican flags and even upside down American flags. I called out to a man that his flag he had stuck in his hat was upside down and shame on him. His wife quickly tried to fix it.
As the crowd left I stood silently facing them with my sign raised high. They had to pass near me to get to the crosswalk. A police officer came over and said that he had received reports that I was harassing people. He said they had a permit to have a rally and I was standing on state property. I replied that I was a CITIZEN of the state and the city. I paid taxes, and I had a right to hold a sign if I chose to do so. I understood his difficult position, but I would not be swayed in my right. He agreed and backed off.
Whether you agree with it or not, it's the law of our nation.
from the Fourteenth Amendment:
"nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"
This is one of the most controversial clauses in the Constitution.
In Dejonge vs Oregon (1937), the Supreme Court ruled than the due process clause applies to the basic freedoms in the Bill of Rights.
In Plyler vs Doe (1982), the Supreme Court determined that the term "person" in the 14th Amendment includes illegal aliens, by virtue of their physical presence in the U.S..
Among the rights then guaranteed to illegal aliens are:
- freedom of speech and waving of flags;
- freedom of assembly; and
- freedom from unusual search and seizure.
It is this last freedom which prevents police from detaining members of a crowd unless they have reasonable suspicion that a specific crime has been committed by a specific person.
I think we all know that police cannot round up a peaceable assembly and start checking ID's. Any arrests made as a result would be immediately thrown out of court.
Like many of us, I volunteered and served my country to defend the freedoms in our Constitution. I may not agree with all parts of that Constitution, but it was my job to defend it nonetheless.
Here are some immigration laws:
Section 1325. Improper entry by alien
(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection;
misrepresentation and concealment of facts
Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States
at any time or place other than as designated by immigration
officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration
officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United
States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the
willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or
imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or
imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties
Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to
enter) the United States at a time or place other than as
designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil
penalty of -
(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or
attempted entry); or
(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of
an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under
this subsection.
Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not
in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be
imposed.
(c) Marriage fraud
Any individual who knowingly enters into a marriage for the
purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be
imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than
$250,000, or both.
(d) Immigration-related entrepreneurship fraud
Any individual who knowingly establishes a commercial enterprise
for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws
shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined in accordance
with title 18, or both.
Clearly entering the US by improper means is illegal. If a felon loses his constitutional rights (or at least some, like voting and others related to his incarceration), I cannot imagine that ILLEGAL aliens, who are criminals by virtue of their status, should have the *right* to any of these things.
Fourth amendment protections for illegal immigrants are changing all the time. A law school professor explains that previously-deported illegal immigrants do not possess the same rights as those who have not been deported:
http://tinyurl.com/lqtxg
I am not the only Latina/Latino that feels this way, in fact I am rather embarrassed by how they are behaving. In defense of my race, we, in general, are a peaceful and hard-working race, however, the law is the law and no one regardless of race should be allowed to break it. And what really ticked me off was the waving of the Mexican flag, how disrespectful is that? And upside down American flags?! Ohhhh!! That is beyond reprehensible.
Ruth,
I am sorry you were called a "racist" and it is shameful that someone said that to you. It figures, though.
Did you all know there are 1.4 million people here on working Visa's?
Here's a link to explanation of Supreme Court immigration rulings. If you search for PLYLER, you can find the explanation about how children of illegal aliens gained the right to public education. That's the case where the Court decided that the term "person" in the Fourteenth Amendment includes illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/back305.html
Jez, St. Patty's Day isn't ILLEGAL. The Mexican flag is great, but if these folks LOVE America as they claim, wouldn't they want to present themselves as not wanting to make America into the country they're fleeing?
JRob, as per the jaywalking, those photos didn't do it justice. You had people darting in and out of traffic, in between moving cars so that the drivers were slamming on the brakes, honking.. and it is very revealing that these ILLEGALS can't even obey the basic traffic laws. I do. I at least want a pat on the back.
Very few of the 500,000 Hispanics I walked with on Sunday in Dallas were carrying Mexican flags or showing any disrespect for the United States. As I moved throughout the crowd for five hours, I was struct by the joy that was so evident. Most adults had children with them, and you could see the pride of these parents as they held up their kids to show them the crowds. Many families included three generations. Hispanics - and a few Asians - waved U.S. flags and held up their own hand drawn signs. These were not manufactured signs and manufactured phrases. Rather, they were the passionate expressions of the families who had gathered. Signs were painted on poster board, on scraps of wood, and on pieces of cardboard. Some signs I remember:
"We are not criminals, We are workers. Let us work with you."
"Let my children try for the American Dream."
"I am a U.S. citizen. Let my mama and daddy stay here."
"Why do you hate us? We love America and Americans."
"If being an immigrant is a crime, then God help us all."
I was struck by the love and care that these folks had for their children. It was hot and we stood for hours, so some chidren did grow tired. I never saw one parent or grandparent act impatiently with their children. Not one.
These immigrants were peacefully objecting to legislation that affected them. They were exercising the rights that make our nation great, and doing so with civility. It was an American event of which we should all be proud.
Thank you for letting me know. Our race tends to get the worst reputation. I am proud of who I am and where my ancestors came from. But the point of the matter is, if they want to stay in the states they need to get documented and become legal citizens.
Leticia and John, I am not implying that Hispanics/Mexicans are bad. I'm saying Law Breakers are the problem. Ones who totally disregard the law. John, just days before the rally you and I attended, the rallies were very different. Upside down flags and the whole bit. Check out Michelle Malkins web site for more details about not only the rallies of the last two weeks, but the ones on Monday. It was a carefully orchestrated media photo event. The spirit where I was was not one of respecting America. They DEMANDED that they as ILLEGALS receive entry into colleges and financial aide... and they compare themselves to slaves. That's just sick.
Latinos in America legally by and large vote Republican because they understand law and how wonderful the United States is. And they reject this illegal legalization movement. It is the illegals who are supported by Democrats. This is a political football, pure and simple, and in my opinion, Mexicans are the prop of choice for the Dems.
I have read that Republicans are picking up more of the Hispanic vote, but I think the Democrats still get most of it. According to the New York Times and Dick Morris, here's the Republican percent in the past 3 national elections:
1996 21%
2000 31%
2004 45%
Dick Morris claims that Bush won that many votes in large part because he rejected the hard line positions formerly advocated by Republicans:
"He endorsed bilingual education, reversing decades of Republican agitation for English-only policies."
"He even embraced a version of amnesty that permitted illegal immigrants to gain lawful status and eventual citizenship."
http://tinyurl.com/p2hxg
If Republicans adopt the hard line views of John Cornyn and James Sensenbrenner and J.D. Hayworth, they can write off the gains that Bush won with Hispanics. The nation will elect a Democrat to the White House in 2008. That would be a tragedy.
Bush, McCain, Schwarzenegger, and others realize how precarious is the Hispanic vote, and how much it is needed by the Republicans. But the inflexible Right Wing seems determined to go down in flames.
The president said: "When illegal immigrants know they will be caught and sent home, they will be less likely to break the rules, and our immigration system will be more orderly and secure." What a novel idea! The truth is that we have NEVER tried this before. There has always been a wink and a nod and we are suffering the consequences now. We have laws on the books now. WHY aren’t we enforcing the law? Both parties are putting the prospect of a potential voting bloc before the laws of this country.
Why hasn’t the president fulfilled his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States and enforce the law? He has had five years (Clinton had 8 years, 41 had 4 years). I think that is a legitimate question. The answer is simple….because they (the president and Congress) are selling this country one vote, one dollar and one day at a time. They are playing politics with America’s future as a sovereign nation.
They need to vigorously ENFORCE our laws, build a fence on the border and send the National Guard to assist the Border Patrol. The Senate should endorse the H.R. 4437 & 3095 and remove the “anchor baby” clause. One of the most important parts of the bills is ENFORCING the verification of the immigration status of workers before hiring them, with increased fines for employers who fail to comply (this is already a law).
As it stands, the proposed guest worker program is amnesty. It rewards bad behavior and encourages more of the same. Any law that allows amnesty for people that are here ILLEGALLY is unacceptable. The colonization of this country by illegals will continue if there is not a strong message to those who break our laws (that includes Americans).
The president said: "As we debate the immigration issue, we must remember there are hardworking individuals, doing jobs that Americans will not do, who are contributing to the economic vitality of our country,". I guess he thinks if he just keeps repeating that line the American people will buy it. The issue is not how hardworking these people are or even if they are doing jobs that Americans will not do (which they are not). The issue is the ILLEGAL colonization of this country, the lack of enforcement of our laws, the increase of diseases and our sovereignty.
The tens of thousands of illegals who have been participating in the protest marches are led by the radical left-wing communist/Marxists organizations, such as La Raza (The Race), MEChA, and National of Aztlan, LULAC, the Mexica Movement, International ANSWER, and Open Borders, and is a typical example of what happens when you write laws with no funding or intention of enforcement, combined with lawmakers quest for votes. This blatant and militant display tells you that they know that they are heard in Washington and the American citizen is not. I suspect a lot of lawmakers will hear the peoples voice at the election booth because the citizens of this country will not lay down and allow Washington to give this country away.
American’s have watched while tens of thousands of illegals are protesting in the streets telling everyone they have “rights”; thousands of illegals demanding that our government put foreign interest above American citizens; thousands waving flags of their home country and desecrating the American flag; thousands thumbing their noses at the “rule of law”. This blatant show of power is a direct result of our lawmakers empowering them because they don’t have the backbone to stand and protect this country or our Constitution and sooner or later these actions will erupt in violence. The blame will lie in the laps of Washington and those spineless representatives who put the quest for votes above the protection of the United States.
This is OUR country and is about time Washington, including the president, started recognizing that fact.
One of the very serious consequences of ignoring the laws of this nation is an increase in drug resistant Tuberculosis, hepatitis A B & C, leprosy, Chagas Disease, Hemmorhagic Fever , dengue fever, Polio, malaria and other communicable diseases. By entering this country illegally, screening for diseases and vaccinations are bypassed. This poses serious Health and Safety issue to all Americans.
We need a president and lawmakers who represent America’s interest and uphold and enforce the Constitution of the United States.
SECURE THE BORDER! ENFORCE THE LAW AND THEY WILL GO HOME AND RETURN LEGALLY! NO AMNESTY! NO GUESTWORKER!
I think you're right about the practicality of the guest worker program. I think its purpose is to allow immigrants to enter the US only to work and to return home, but apparently these illegals are residing in the US, even at the expense of employers (apparently there are laws that require them to bus workers to and from the border, house them temporarily, etc., which places a burden on the employer). That clearly is illegal entry into the US. I am baffled by how any of this can be condoned by anyone with any respect for the law.
I agree with your comments and thanks for posting.
We didn't cross the border - the border crossed us. Never forget that we are ALL immigrants.
I am a granddaughter of immigrants. My father's parents migrated from Poland coming through Ellis Island. My mother's family from Canada, and they came from Ireland to Canada. I grew up hearing lots of Polish, but my grandparents all spoke the language. My dad's first language is English, Polish second.
If the Native Americans had a government and immigration policy, I would condemn the Pilgrims for trespassing. There were no laws broken by the pilgrims settling and it was by and large an unsettled land. As I understand it, the pilgrims and Indians in the early colonies got along. Early records show that the Wampanoag tribe was "very charitable towards their neighbors". Of course, if they had known how European settlers would eventually exploit and betray their hospitality, perhaps the early Indians would have established an immigration policy. Of course, they could not enforce such a policy.
In other words, your argument doesn't work.
The issue is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, not immigration. If I break and enter into your home, set up house, demand that you pay my medical bills, food bills and give me a job and THEN make it all legal, would you have a problem with that? You should.
America has a rich history of immigration. America is beautiful because of legal immigrants. We are a benevolent country who welcomes people in if they are willing to meet the criteria. The disrespect for American law and those who abide by it is disgusting. Its' that simple.
I cant belive you dont consider your self a racist.The whole article you and your friends are bashing mexicans and thats just from the stuff you tell us about.YOur so fast at writing about how mexicans were being rude to you calling you names haha thats funny that you take it so personally for some one who thinks so low of illegals.Why dont you write about how these illegal immigrants get beat or get harrased every day and how its not easy being an illegal in a country that has so much hate towards anyone who isnt blue eyed or white colored. You dont know anything about real life you have never known what hard labor is like. You dont what its like to live in another country and have your family starving and waking up everyday and wondering if you will make enough to eat. Or having to sacrafice anything.
Americans have nothing better to do why dont you kick your self out your an immigrat too whos using who .........well you cant be a PIMP and a PROSTITUTE too
It's funny how ignorant alot of these gringos can be, they call every hispanic "Mexican" because they ALL depend on Mexico to cross here. FYI people from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Brazil etc cross through Mexico as Mexicans "with false identity" so if they get caught they wont be sent all the way back to their country. I don't blame them for trying to look for a better life, I blame Mexico's government for not controlling it's Guatemala/Mexico and Mexico/USA border letting everyone in their country.
well, well, i mightbe the only one on this site opposing what this lady is saying.You were born here like many others, you speak on only the half of what you see. i ask you to put yourselves in their shoes. do you want to provide a better life for your children or do you stay in mexico and wait to be able to be documented because american people are inconvienced by you and your children. Yes there are people that come across and do illegal things. i don't thnk its because there illegal it's because they are bad people. There are people allover this country that nobody can say anytthing about just because they are legal, " so why don't we turn our focus on the immigrants" Most of these people are not criminals!