The battle between Mexican Americans and illegals who think America is their land isn't going to end soon.
Posted on 04/02/2006 10:45:08 AM PDT by digger48
SOLANA BEACH, Calif. - Manuel Aguilar feels uneasy in supermarkets and other public spaces, and he's careful not to drive over the speed limit for fear that a traffic stop could lead to his deportation.
But the 22-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico feels so strongly about a proposed overhaul of national immigration policy that he plans to join a protest next weekend in a San Diego park and is even helping organize the event.
Aguilar, who makes $380 a week at a flower nursery in the ultrawealthy San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe, speaks with anger and disbelief about the House bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally.
"It's not a crime to work," said Aguilar, who has been in this country about five years. "We are not criminals."
He is hardly alone in his move from the shadows to the streets. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants have demonstrated in cities across the nation in a rare burst of activism that surprised even organizers.
Aguilar, living in a part of Southern California suburbia where sentiment against illegal immigration has been rising, was moved to act by the blessings of the Roman Catholic Church and the comfort of protesting in large numbers.
It's unclear whether the protests will influence Congress or if this is the beginning of a social movement with staying power. But Eliseo Medina, a prominent union official, considers it a pivotal time because the marches have drawn people from all ages and economic backgrounds.
"People finally said 'If that many people are going out, I'll go out too and make my voice heard,'" said Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union and an early leader of the United Farm Workers.
David Locher, a sociologist at Missouri Southern State University who studies crowd psychology, suspects the street action will fade.
"A true social movement builds up gradually over time," he said. "As far as I can tell, this is more a spontaneous thing."
Like many of the new activists, Aguilar appears uninfluenced by established politicians or immigrant advocacy groups. But something changed last week when he attended St. Leo Mission Catholic Church in Solana Beach, a small oceanfront suburb of multimillion-dollar homes north of San Diego.
It was the day after enthusiastic reports about a large Los Angeles rally, which the Catholic Church supported.
A church worker invited parishioners to stay after Mass to plan a demonstration. Organizers expected 20 people, but about 100 showed up, including Aguilar, who attends services three times a week. Many of the participants live in northern San Diego County, a stronghold of activism against illegal immigrants.
The church members plan an April 9 protest at San Diego's Balboa Park.
"We stayed quiet for a long time, but the water rose above our necks," said Arnoldo Marin, a handyman who moved to the United States from the Mexican state of Jalisco in 1986 and became a legal resident. "If you feel yourself drowning, you have to do something."
The shaft...
"We are not criminals."
Uhm, by any legal definition you really are. Until the law is changed it's still illegal to be in the country without authorization or citizenship.
and the deportation (but I'm not holding my breath)
Surely there is some American who is currently unemployed but willing to take the bus into this suburb to get paid $1,520/month.
The employer would have to pay social security and maybe even provide some kind of health care. And the white customers might have to look at a black face instead of a smiling brown face.
Tough. These are small prices to pay for patriotism and the rule of law.
This employer and his customers are paying for these things anyway. Not paying social security now? Guess what some day down the road you will be asked to subsidize the retirement income of illegals -- count on it.
Not providing health care now? You are already paying the price in crowded emergency rooms and higher health care premiums.
Amen. If Americans take these jobs, the illegals will have no job and therefore must go back.
But the 22-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico Aguilar ... speaks with anger and disbelief about the House bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally.
"It's not a crime to work," said Aguilar, who has been in this country about five years. "We are not criminals."
You're here illegally, you're most likely driving without a license or insurance and you're working in violation of the law. If you're not a criminal, what are you, a victim of circumstances beyond your control?
Aguilar was moved to act by the blessings of the Roman Catholic Church and the comfort of protesting in large numbers.
... something changed last week when he attended St. Leo Mission Catholic Church in Solana Beach... It was the day after enthusiastic reports about a large Los Angeles rally, which the Catholic Church supported.
Mobs with God on their side. Always a good combination.
"We stayed quiet for a long time, but the water rose above our necks," said Arnoldo Marin, a handyman who moved to the United States from the Mexican state of Jalisco in 1986 and became a legal resident.
Amnesty for all!!
I wondered how these things got put together.
Many economists consider an unemployment rate of between 3% and 4% to be "full employment." I live in San Diego and I have seen "help wanted" signs stay up for a month.
San Diego County Unemployment Rate Nearly Unchanged in February
03-24-2006 (San Diego, CA) -- San Diego County's unemployment rate was barely changed last month, at 4.1 percent, from 4 percent even in January, but considerably below the 4.7 percent rate in February last year. The California Department of Employment Development says the statewide jobless rate was 5.5 percent, while the rate nationally was 5.1 percent. In San Diego, gains in government jobs were offset by post Christmas layoffs in the retail trade sector of the local economy. San Diego County added a total of 26,500 jobs over the past 12 months, with the largest increase -- 7400 jobs -- in the leisure and hospitality segments. The construction industry added 6100 jobs.
Did I miss sarcasm tag here?
I doubt that even if Americans sign up for the jobs, they will get them. The illegals will just lower the wage they demand.
Importing poverty to make sure busy yuppies can hire a nanny and a cook and a gardner and cheap vegetables is a pretty evil thing to do. It's a sure bet that the cook'x and nanny's and gardner's now-legal children won't want the same job as their parents and we'll be asked to open the gates again another 10 years down the line.
"We are not criminals."
He fears being busted and deported...but he's not a criminal. This speaks volumes!
DEPORT MANUEL AGUILAR !!
http://www.rnha.org/News/Immigration/A%20Nation%20of%20numerous%20laws.htm
A Nation of (Numerous) Laws
Immigration foes just want a little respect.
America is a nation of laws by now so numerous that it provides jobs for more lawyers per capita than any nation on earth. They serve as legal lifeguards, saving mostly honest citizens from the legal system's capricious undertow. Medical malpractice and asbestos are two areas of law for which "respect" is about zero. A law's existence requires compliance, but not respect.
Some of the anti-Mexican sentiment likely reflects an embarrassed awareness of our degraded laws, and so it has chosen to draw a line in the legal sand over immigration. That won't change the fact that U.S. immigration law is a disrespectable morass.
Hmmm...$350/wk. I wonder if that's take-home? Does his flower shop employer withhold taxes? If so, does Manuel file a return to claim his refund in April? No? Well, of course not...he'a afraid of a speeding ticket, for crying out loud.
So, the IRS is holding several hundred dollars' worth of withholding money for Manuel. What happens to that money at the end of the year? Well, the gub'mint spends it, that's what. Gee, who'd a thunk it, free money for the gub'mint. What a deal, huh?
I see the AP is working hard to push the open borders agenda.
Now this one has me doubling my donation for this fundraiser. Great toon!
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