Sí se puede! Immigrants and allies march for immigrant rights
(Photo by Danielle Pryor)
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in south Minneapolis, about 400 Latino immigrants and their families, students, and members of the activist community marched for immigrant rights on February 16.
Chanting “Sí se puede” and carrying banners that read “No human being is illegal” and “We are all immigrants in the struggle,” the marchers walked several blocks from the corner of Chicago and Lake to the Walker Community Church as a response to immigration proposals presented by Governor Pawlenty January 7.
Pawlenty’s immigration proposals include an end to what he calls sanctuary cities in the state, targeting ordinances in Minneapolis and St Paul that say local government employees, including police, do not enforce federal immigration laws. Pawlenty also called for review of all drivers licenses and identification cards already issued by the state, and training in federal immigration enforcement for local and state police, who would work alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Employers would be required to re-verify workers social security numbers through a national electronic program called e-Verify, and would be fined $5,000 for hiring undocumented workers.
Public Meeting to Plan May Day 2008 WHAT: A public meeting of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAC) to begin planning for this year’s May Day immigrant rights activities and mobilizations. WHEN: Wednesday, February 20th at 6 pm WHERE: Waite House Community Center |
At the march and rally, advocates pointed out that these proposals, instead of solving problems, create an environment of fear, terrorize families, divide the communities and violate the rights of all workers. Among the points they made were:
• Many businesses, fearing federal investigations, are already using these policies as a pretext for terminating workers.
• Hundreds of lay offs are already happening, and thousands more workers could be displaced.
• Companies could be vulnerable to all types of discrimination lawsuits.
• These policies will seriously damage an already failing economy and will violate labor and civil rights of workers.
“We are here to say no to Governor Pawlenty’s anti-worker proposals, to make our voices be heard and to demand that immigrant rights are respected,” said Veronica Mendez, of Workers’ Interfaith Network.
A skit at the rally reminded people what to do to protect their civil rights in the case of an immigration raid. Local advocates, members of the immigration rapid response team, have been organizing trainings to prepare immigrants on what to do when ICE arrives at the door. They quickly respond to assist families with information and lawyer referrals. In Latino neighborhoods, like Lake Street in south Minneapolis, children are afraid to go out of their homes and parents no longer trust their local cops. Although most people are unaware, for immigrants, raids are a constant fear.
“When somebody knocks at my door, I assume it is a friend, but thousands of people in the Latino immigrant community are terrorized of a knock in their door.” says Kristen Melby of Witness for Peace.
“People are taken from their home under false pretenses,” Melby said. “ICE agents tell them that they are looking for somebody else. Some people are kept for months in detention. Next thing, the family hears from their loved one in a phone call from Mexico. When somebody of power is using racism as a policy, there needs to be a response. As a society, at what point do we say this is enough?”
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Illegal is Illegal
Illegal is illegal, I don’t care who you are, your level of education, how much money you make and whether you became illegal by entering the country without a visa or inspection OR overstayed a visa you had from legal entry. Giving amnesty and rewarding illegal behavior is not the way to build a good system of law and order. Anything short of deportation is amnesty. ALL illegals must return to their native land and, if they wish, they may then begin the LEGAL process of immigration to the U.S.
Two different groups have
Two different groups have emerged in America today due to the effect of illegal immigration, those who have to obey the law (citizens) and those who don’t (illegal aliens).
Remember, America was built with native born citizens and LEGAL immigrants.
The only standard that applies is the LAW.
There is ONLY one standard that applies to immigration. That is the LAW.
It’s not what they (illegal immigrants and their advocates) want.
It has nothing to do with someone’s perceived concept is of what’s moral.
It has nothing to do with considering the perceived impact on families.
It has nothing to do with considering the needs of the illegals.
It has nothing to do with taking into account their motivations for illegally entering.
It has nothing to do with any claims the illegals advocates may make; such as: they do the jobs American won’t (absolutely wrong), they benefit our economy (they absolutely don’t), they aren’t a drain on our social services, infrastructure and education systems (wrong again);
The only standard that applies to immigration is the LAW!!!
Illegal aliens come to
Illegal aliens come to America and expect us to turn our country – its laws, its culture, its system of citizen benefits – on its ear to benefit them. Then they accuse us of being racist, bigoted, and hateful xenophobes for requiring them to follow the law that countless LEGAL immigrants took the time to follow. They refuse to acknowledge how their actions can rightfully be interpreted as insulting. They’re essentially saying, “We don’t give a damn about you, your laws, your country or your culture…gimme, gimme, gimme.”
I’m quite sure that anyone who opposes illegal immigration would have no problem with immigrants of any stripe coming here legally, according to our laws, to make a better life for themselves. But by countless millions invading our country and overwhelming our schools and social systems, criminal justice system, hospitals, degrading our economy, taxing our already fragile infrastructure, crowding our cities and elbowing their way into jobs that are required by law to be given to citizens and legal workers; its just a bit of a problem to those of us who demand that our immigration laws be followed. It’s not racist or bigoted to demand that anyone who wants citizenship show their dedication to their new country by following its laws pertaining to immigration. Breaking those laws as your first action in your “new country” does not sit well with the vast majority of American citizens nor will they ever accept it.
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