Posted on 05/17/2006 3:53:25 AM PDT by Kimberly GG
"ATLANTA - Vowing to turn street power into political action, immigration rights groups across the country have been organizing caravans of buses from as far as Los Angeles to bring legal immigrants to Washington for a day of lobbying Wednesday."........
"I believe marches were good ideas, but now we need TO MEET the senators to express to them that not everybody is illegal who feels like this," said Sandra Lacayo, a 27-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua."........................
"They are a huge voice that, if motivated, could make the difference. They're trying to claim what they hope to be the collective future of the country," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who met with Hispanic advocates in Atlanta on Monday and is one of three Hispanic members of the U.S. Senate.
Contrary to the street marches, where many fearlessly proclaimed their illegal status, naturalized U.S. citizens and legal residents are in the front lines of this event, and not only because only those with valid IDs can enter the Capitol.
Immigrant supporters are banding together nationwide for a massive naturalization and voter registration drive, hoping to turn immigrants into a million new citizens and get their supporters to vote in this year's elections. Their message mixes fear with confidence - fear that the proposed immigration reform might threaten the status even of those who are here legally, and confidence that immigrants can cast many a deciding vote once they become citizens.
One of the fundamental messages they'll bring to Congress is that it's disingenuous to draw a line between legal and illegal immigrants, Herrera said.".............
(Excerpt) Read more at macon.com ...
PS: Hope that's how my Guinness/Jameson's one is taken, too. (Lord knows I've had my share of Irish siestas in my life time).
Yes, indeedie!
I suppose I could have said "followed by the bashing of a Pat Buchanan pinata in the park."
I'd hate to offend an illegal immigrant, so I'm very concerned that I address His Majesty, the King of Florida.
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