Posted on 02/06/2006 6:45:22 PM PST by NormsRevenge
A Bay Area group that supports immigrant workers and opposes citizens who take it upon themselves to patrol the US border with Mexico held a rally Sunday in San Francisco's Mission District to welcome a caravan of migrant worker activists on a 25 city national tour.
From San Francisco, the group will travel to Sacramento, then on, across the country, eventually to the nation's capitol where they will lobby legislators to oppose the proposed Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 or HR 4437. That bill would expand enforcement of undocumented border crossings and toughen penalties for people who cross illegally, along with people who aid or house them. The bill passed the House and is set to go to the Senate. The human rights groups call it "anti-migrant" legislation.
The March for Migrants tour, sponsored by Gente Unida, the Border Angels, and other human rights organizations, began Feb. 2 on the US/Mexico border in San Ysidro, Calif. The caravan of eight cars and about 20 people stopped in San Francisco where they were hosted by the Bay Area Coalition to Fight the Minutemen and about 100 supporters. After a rally at the 24th Street BART station, the group marched down Mission Street chanting "Todo escucha, estamos en la lucha" or "Listen everyone, we are in the fight."
"If they (the Senate) pass this racist, right wing rhetoric then we (The Border Angels) will continue to leave food and water for people crossing the desert, even if they criminalize us," said Enrique Morones, a spokesperson for the Border Angels and the March for Migrants.
The Bay Area Coalition to Fight the Minutemen was formed in June of 2005 in response to the Minutemen Project's actions and its stated goal of "doing the jobs Congress won't do" by monitoring undocumented crossings of the border. Last August and September, the local coalition sent two separate caravans of Bay Area-based members to the California/Mexico border to protest the Minutemen Project, according to Scott Campbell, 24, of Oakland, an organizer for the group.
A lone voice of opposition to the rally trumpeted steadily as various speakers engaged the crowd through a megaphone. "It angers me that you people complain about US government corruption when we need to look at the corruption of Latin American governments too; we need to protect our borders because we are in a war on terrorism," said Alfredo Najera, 32, of San Francisco. He told the crowd he was a Republican.
A brief yelling match with expletive exchanges occurred between Najera and two protesters without incident.
The March for Migrants tour plans rallies and vigils at locations in 25 cities including universities, the California state capitol in Sacramento, and the nation's capitol, Washington, DC. They also hope to raise awareness about what they consider the assassination of Guillermo Martinez Rodriguez, 20, by the United States Border Patrol on Dec. 30 while he was attempting to cross the border at Tijuana, Mexico.
Organizers are calling for a boycott of Wisconsin cheese because Wisconsin's Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner is the bill's author. They also plan to protest outside Lou Dobbs' CNN show "Broken Borders" in Atlanta on Feb. 13. Dobbs is a strong supporter of the Minutemen project.
"Our goal is to bring attention to the fact that over 400 people are known to have died crossing the border this year and to help people all over the country realize that these Mexicans, Latinos, and migrants are people just trying to enter the United States to work and support their families, don't be afraid of them," said Danny Morales, 70, of Riverside who was traveling with the caravan.
It's not about immigration, it's about "Mexicans, Latinos" "trying to enter this country" illegally. And doing it. Just quoting the statements they've made there. I noted that they always include the racial superimposition terms, the very same ones over and over again.
It's a racial issue by "Mexicans, Latinos" and a determination to be apart from and separate from our nation's laws. IF they or anyone wants to "work here" let them do it legitimately.
No one said they couldn't apply for citizenship. Interesting that that's not what they're concerned with but with, instead, their RACE.
H.R. 4437 is finally at least some sense agreed to by our House of Representatives. I think the American people have spoken here.
Wonder where they'll march in our neck of the woods?
"Organizers are calling for a boycott of Wisconsin cheese because Wisconsin's Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner is the bill's author."
I'm sure Wisconsin is really afraid.
Yep Americans boycotting the cheese on their pizzas?...
How about illegals boycotting the cheese on their burritos?
Nevah Happen
How about those who EMPLOY THEM!!
A lone voice of opposition to the rally ....said Alfredo Najera, 32, of San Francisco. He told the crowd he was a Republican.
1 Lone voice of reason in SF. That is 1 more than I would ahve expected. You rock!
Remember the thread about the "bathtub cheese"? I think they should start eating that stuff. Yeppers.
SUMMARY AS OF:
12/6/2005--Introduced.
Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) take all appropriate actions, including development of a national border strategy, to maintain operational control over the U.S. international land and maritime borders; (2) report on cross-border security agreements with Mexico and Canada; (3) provide for biometric data enhancements; (4) report on the One Face at the Border Initiative; (5) increase port of entry inspection personnel and canine detection teams; (6) report on the airspace security mission's impact on the National Capital Region; (7) reimburse private owners along the border for certain property damage; (8) establish at least one Border Patrol unit for the Virgin Islands; (9) report on Central American gang travel across the U.S.-Mexico border; and (10) deploy radiation portal monitors at US ports of entry to screen inbound cargo for nuclear and radiological material.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) with respect to alien smuggling and illegal entry and presence to: (1) revise the definition of aggravated felony; (2) provide mandatory minimum sentences on smuggling convictions, and expand seizure and forfeiture authority; (3) make illegal US presence a crime; (4) increases penalties for improper US entry and for marriage and immigration-related entrepreneurship fraud; (5) provide mandatory minimum sentences for aliens convicted of reentry after removal; (6) impose on smugglers the same sentences that the aliens they have smuggled would receive; (7) include among smuggling crimes the carrying or use of a firearm during such activity; and (8) revise voluntary departure provisions.
Directs the Secretary: (1) and the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to increase the availability of Department of Defense (DOD) surveillance equipment along the US international land and maritime borders; (2) to assess border security vulnerabilities on Department of Interior land directly adjacent to the US border; (3) conduct a training exercise on border security information sharing; (4) establish a Border Security Advisory Committee; and (5) establish a university-based Center of Excellence for Border Security.
Authorizes the Secretary to permit the use of DHS grants for border security activities.
Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to border security cooperation with sovereign Indian Nations.
Requires the mandatory detention of illegal aliens apprehended at a US port of entry or along the US land or maritime borders. Permits release with notice to appear only if the alien: (1) is not a security risk; and (2) provides a specified bond. Denies admission to the nationals of a country that refuses or delays acceptance of its nationals ordered removed from the United States.
Requires that the Secretary place an alien (other than from Mexico or Canada) who has not been admitted or paroled into expedited removal if apprehended within 100 miles of the border and within 14 days of unauthorized entry.
Directs the Secretary to take specified actions to ensure coordination of DHS border security efforts.
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in DHS an Office of Air and Marine Operations whose primary mission shall be to prevent the entry of terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband into the United States.
Directs the Secretary to transfer to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement all functions of the Customs Patrol Officers unit operating on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation (the "Shadow Wolves" unit). Authorizes the Secretary to establish within United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement additional Customs Patrol units to operate on Indian lands.
Bars an alien: (1) deportable on terrorist grounds from receiving withholding of removal; (2) convicted of an aggravated felony, unlawful procurement of citizenship, or domestic violence, stalking, or child abuse from admissibility; (3) convicted of an aggravated felony from refugee or asylee status adjustment; (4) removable on terrorist grounds from becoming naturalized; and (5) from being naturalized while in removal proceedings.
Revises and enhances detention provisions for certain dangerous aliens subject to removal, including establishment of a detention review process for cooperating aliens.
Increases penalties and sets mandatory minimum sentences for aliens who fail to comply with removal provisions.
Makes an alien deportable for: (1) three or more drunk driving convictions; and (2) social security number and identification fraud.
Authorizes (and reimburses) local sheriffs or sheriff coalitions in specified counties along the southern border to enforce the immigration laws and to transfer illegal aliens to federal custody. Establishes in the Treasury the Designated County Law Enforcement Account.
Makes an alien inadmissible for US entry if: (1) such alien has been deported for criminal street gang participation; or (2) the consular officer or the Secretary knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that such alien is a member of a criminal street gang seeking US entry in furtherance of gang-related crimes or activities, or is a member of a designated criminal street gang. Makes an alien deportable who: (1) is a street gang member convicted of committing or attempting to commit a gang crime; or (2) is determined by the Secretary to be a member of a designated criminal street gang. Authorizes the Attorney General to designate a group or association as a criminal street gang. Requires mandatory detention of alien gang members subject to removal. Makes such aliens ineligible for asylum and protection from removal to certain countries.
Authorizes expedited removal for aliens inadmissible for security or criminal grounds.
Makes sexual abuse of a minor an aggravated felony for immigration purposes.
Directs the Secretary to establish, and sets forth the provisions for, an employment eligibility verification system. Expands the employment eligibility verification system to include: (1) previously hired individuals; and (2) recruitment and referral. Sets forth civil and criminal penalty provisions for noncompliance.
Provides for: (1) voluntary employer verification utilizing such system two years after enactment of this Act for previously hired individuals; (2) mandatory employer verification three years after enactment of this Act by federal, state, and local governments, and the military for employees not verified under such system working at federal, state or local government buildings, military bases, nuclear energy sites, weapons sites, airports, or critical infrastructure sites; and (3) mandatory employer verification six years after enactment of this Act for all employees not previously verified under such system.
Makes employer participation in the basic pilot program mandatory two years after enactment of this Act.
Authorizes the Board of Immigration Appeals to reverse an immigration judge's removal decision without remand.
Eliminates judicial review of visa revocation.
Authorizes reinstatement of a prior removal order against an alien illegally reentering the United States.
Requires an alien applying for withholding of removal to establish that his or her life or freedom would be threatened in the country of return, and that race, religion, nationality, or political or social group would be a central factor in such threat.
Subjects removal appeals to an initial certification of reviewability process by a single court of appeals judge.
Requires all nonimmigrant applicants to waive any right to: (1) review or appeal a determination of inadmissibility at port of entry; or (2) contest, other than through asylum, any action for removal.
This has passed the house and is now in the Senate. It's been read twice but all that means is that it is being passed between committees. Seems to be moving right along. You can have many second readings. Watch for it to be read a third time, that means it's up for a vote.
If number one included a major fence or barrier along the entire southern border, I would be more impressed. A major barrier must be step number one. Without the fence, no other steps will work.
hey,
i was just looking at what you said and i just wanted to know if you know how hard and EXPENSIVE it is to get in to this country illegally. all these folks want to do is make some money to support their family. they arent doing any thing wrong. like and 'american citizen' would really want to clean restrooms
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