Posted on 11/26/2005 1:31:05 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Polls show less tolerance for sanctuary in such cities as Houston
PEÑITAS, TEXAS - The No Trespassing sign tacked to a mesquite tree outside Elizabeth Nelson's property, along with the snarling of Marcos, her fierce Rottweiler, make her feelings clear: Illegal immigrants aren't welcome.
"There are good people coming just to make a living, but there are bad people, too," said Nelson, fed up with the sight of immigrants streaming into Peñitas, a town of 1,200 along the Rio Grande. "You just don't trust anybody."
Her attitude reflects what some anti-immigrant activists describe as "an awakening." More Americans, they say, are beginning to take a tougher stance against illegal immigration. And they're beginning to question the so-called sanctuary policies that are designed to protect illegal immigrants in such cities as Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
"Every political survey that is done shows concern about immigration ranks up there with education, employment, and health care," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a lobby group that opposes illegal immigration. "It's on the minds of people everywhere because it's no longer a localized phenomenon."
A recent Austin lawsuit has drawn attention to the debate, fueling discussion of whether cities and towns should report illegal immigrants or leave enforcement to the federal government.
On Nov. 4, the parents of a teenager killed in January 2004 sued the Austin police department. Humberto Garcia claimed that his daughter, Jenny Garcia Hayden, might be alive if police had reported her killer to immigration authorities after his illegal status was purportedly discovered during an unrelated investigation before the murder.
Austin officials deny any wrongdoing. They say their policy, based on a 1997 city resolution, is aimed merely at ensuring that city employees do not discriminate against illegal immigrants.
"The policy certainly would not prevent a city employee from reporting an illegal immigrant" to federal authorities, said Anne Morgan, an Austin city attorney.
In Peñitas, 16 miles west of McAllen, and many other spots along the Texas-Mexico border, local police routinely detain undocumented migrants and hold them until Border Patrol agents arrive. But in Houston and many other large metropolitan areas, police leave immigration enforcement to federal agents.
Shift in attitude seen
In recent years, however, attitudes about such policies have begun to shift, Melhman said, as residents and officials in such communities as Suffolk County, N.Y., and Danbury, Conn., question sanctuary policies.
"The average cop on the beat would be more than happy" to report an illegal immigrant, he said. "Usually, these directives are from top brass who for the most part are politicians, not cops."
Recent polls show strong opposition to illegal immigration from the southern border, including among Americans of Hispanic origin.
In May 2005, a Zogby International poll said 81 percent of those surveyed believed that local and state police should help federal authorities arrest illegal immigrants; 53 percent supported the deployment of troops on the border, and 56 percent opposed undocumented migrants' participation in a guest worker program proposed by President Bush.
In Arizona, where illegal immigration is now the nation's highest, a Northern Arizona State University poll found that 84 percent of those residents surveyed favored increased spending on border enforcement, and 70 percent wanted stepped-up deportation of illegal immigrants.
Pro-immigration advocates say police shouldn't get into the business of immigration enforcement. That would encourage racial profiling and hinder police who investigate crimes against immigrants, they say.
Law's complexities cited
"Immigration law is incredibly complex, and state and local police don't have the training to enforce the law and they make mistakes," said Michele Waslin, who directs immigration policy research for the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic advocacy organization. "If they did, it's very likely there would be racial profiling."
Waslin also said that while national interest in immigration has heightened, police associations continue to resist assuming immigration duties. And she said she knows of no major metropolitan area that has reversed its sanctuary policy
"Congress is trying very hard to pass laws that would force police to enforce immigration laws, but as far as I know, state and local police have not changed their minds," she said.
Immigration policies are flawed, she added.
"The immigration system is broken, it needs to be fixed," she said. "But having local police enforce immigration is not a solution."
Plan unveiled in Houston
Despite such views, a Department of Homeland Security plan unveiled in Houston earlier this month envisions asking local police to help with immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said President Bush had ordered him to take control of the 7,000 miles of northern and southern borders, and the goal is to catch and remove every person who enters the country illegally.
Not everyone agrees with the enforcement priorities.
"People need to remember that 99 percent or higher of the people crossing the border into the United States without proper documents are Latin American labor migrants ... not potential Muslim terrorists," said Prof. David Spener, a sociology professor at Trinity University in San Antonio.
"A lot of people who have had anti-immigrant sentiments all along are now trying to use concerns about national security to advance an anti-immigrant agenda," he said.
Back in Peñitas, police and residents alike say they could use some help.
"There ought to be more security here," said Zaragoza Zamora, who lives on a four-acre tract next to the river levee. "If somebody comes from another country, the police should question them that would happen to me or you in another country."
Oscar Montiveros, chief of the four-officer Peñitas police force, said his meager budget only allows for patrols from 8 a.m to midnight. Smugglers brazenly move drugs across the river during the day, he said, knowing there is only one officer on duty per shift.
Even so, his department this year has managed to seize a ton of marijuana and detain some 200 undocumented migrants, he said. "And we're not a big department, and don't work past midnight."
When will Americans find out they have been invaded?
See. The average American gets it.
Why can't GW? Is it because he wants what is happening? Doesn't care what's happening? Or, doesn't know what's happening in America?
Which is it, George?
"A lot of people who have had anti-immigrant sentiments all along are now trying to use concerns about national security to advance an anti-immigrant agenda," he said. (Prof. David Spener)
Apparently the professor can't discern the difference from an "immigrant" and an "illegal alien".
thank you
That is all we are going to see - TALK. As long as the business can get "cheap labor" the illegal aliens will continue to arrive and the flood will only get larger. Border states are under siege - and the labor ain't that cheap when you figure in all the social costs being paid by the TAXPAYERS of the once great America. The illegal invasion is destroying this country much faster than the RATS and the Looney Left can.
"That is all we are going to see - TALK"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.......
the 2006 elections are a key.
If we get ACTION on secure borders, and removing the Illegals here before the fall then the base will be out..but plenty of debate in congress with NO RESULTS..many of us will stay home on election day..I still return GOP "surveys with cash donation requests" with
SECURE THE BORDERS or NO MONEY.
Illegals Policies Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
How long did it take to think up that PC phrase?
The first ILLEGAL we should deport is George W. Bush. Problem solved!!!
Illegals should top those since they are causing many of the problems within the education, employment, and health care systems.
city employees do not discriminate against illegal immigrants
Rather than protecting it's citizens
56 percent opposed undocumented migrants' participation in a guest worker program proposed by President Bush
Brings to mind the old saying, "fish and guests begin to stink after 3 days."
Pro-immigration advocates say police shouldn't get into the business of immigration enforcement
Another special interest group wanting to only enforce the laws they want enforced.
Immigration law is incredibly complex
Very simple; citizen or not. Must be too complex for her pea brain.
99 percent or higher of the people crossing the border into the United States without proper documents are Latin American labor migrants ... not potential Muslim terrorists
Ok, so according to the professor, let's say 1% are terrorists. According to the Center for Immigration Service, there are 10 million illegals. At 1% we're looking at 100,000 potential terrorists. Divide that out and and we're looking at how many 9/11s? At first, that number is astounding until one looks at how many cells there are in America and that every week there's some suspicious AQ activity in the news.
RemaininlightZulu
"I understand Americans in droves are buying up property on Baja California and in and around resort towns springing up on Mexico's coastlines."
And just wait until the Mexican government comes in and takes that property back. It has happened before and any American who buys land in Mexico and expects it to stay his is crazy.
Americans already know. It's the politicians and judges who must wake up and realize their jobs are in danger if they don't support enforcing our laws.
Anti-Bush-betrayal Sarcasm Torpedo ARMED. FIRE!!
It's because he's trying to curry favor with the country-club wing of the GOP (he's only "new money") and he knows that someone has to do the yard work for the rich...
I used to think that but look at GW, and all the others that have pandered to the illegals. They are still in power.
"National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic advocacy organization. "If they did, it's very likely there would be racial profiling." "
La Raza has a slogan "For the race everything, for the others, nothing." This is their central belief and thus they are a racist organization devoted to trying to take part of Ametrican land and turn it into another "Turd World" mini-nation.
I find it ironic that a professional racist objects to racial profiling when it may snare the crinimals he supports as a matter of his organization's policy.
Mr. La Raza racist, meet Mr. Racism.
When will President Bush have treason proceedings instituted in the La Raza case?
The only way the Democrats could be worse would be to issue each illegal a $1,000.00 per month stipend!
"The illegal invasion is destroying this country much faster than the RATS and the Looney Left can."
Correct!
Their character is not the subject of their scorn. Their actions are.
That would encourage racial profiling
The vast majority of Hispanics (as well as Arabs) are a subset of European Caucasoids, They're "white". There is no racial profiling.
People need to remember that 99 percent or higher of the people crossing the border into the United States without proper documents are Latin American labor migrants ... not potential Muslim terrorists,
These "labor migrants" are economic terrorists on a grander scale than Muslin terrorists ever hoped to be. They are bankrupting local governments and destroying the safety nets for the US middle class. These "labor migrants" have done more economic damage to the US economy than both trade center attacks in New York.
A lot of people who have had anti-immigrant sentiments all along are now trying to use concerns about national security to advance an anti-immigrant agenda.
Probably the left's most potent weapon in this war of words. Words have meanings. Erasing the difference between regulated and unregulated immigration, while not subtle, is effective. The ploy started when illegal aliens became undocumented immigrants.
"That would encourage racial profiling and hinder police who investigate crimes against immigrants, they say."
Encourage racial profiling? Exactly what "race" are Hispanics? I have bever been able to get the OBL to answer that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.