In Houston, anger, applause for failed immigration bill

Chron.com (Houston Chronicle) ^ | June 29, 2007, 2:22AM | LORI RODRIGUEZ, JAMES PINKERTON and SUSAN CARROLL

[BornInASmallTown]

Reaction in Houston to the immigration bill's stunning defeat Thursday in the Senate was fast, furious and unpredictable. Some immigrant advocates actually applauded the defeat, saying the bill was bad for immigrants and for the country. But, others, like Nelson Reyes, executive director of the Gulfton Area Neighborhood Organization, expressed raw anger over the doomed reform measure.

''We thought that the Senate was more mature about issues but, again, politics have prevailed," said Reyes, who emigrated from El Salvador in 1990. ''How in the world are they saying, 'OK, we're not going to do anything. We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it.' "

Ardell Barr, a 69-year-old Clear Lake resident and member of Texans for Immigration Reform, helped lobby against the legislation, sending about 16 e-mails to senators on Wednesday. She was among those celebrating on Thursday.

''They were trying to push something through that was flawed," Barr said. ''We definitely need to do something, but doing something wrong is not the answer." Barr was joined in her sentiments by Felix Rodriguez Ortiz, a member of the Coalition of Mexicans Living Abroad in Houston. ''My opinion, and the opinion of a lot of people, was it was better they didn't pass anything because it was going to be bad," Rodriguez Ortiz said. "It wouldn't benefit anyone, not the immigrants or the government."

[BornInASmallTown]

Now lawbreakers are victims as we "continue persecuting 12 million people..." We learn something new every day, don't we? It never ceases to amaze me how any issue, large or small, fits comfortably in the "spin machine." Nelson Reyes has it all wrong. Politics DID NOT prevail. The will of the American people prevailed. A friend told me after the vote yesterday that "I felt this was the first time that my calling, faxing and emailing actually accomplished something." I know that many of you feel the same way.

[Greg F]

We won this one. Now let’s win all of the rest of them . . .

[listenhillary]

We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it.'

Sounds like a good plan.

[truthkeeper]

Aside from the fact that we haven't had 12 million since the '90's (I'm thinking at least 30 mil), how exactly does allowing millions upon millions of MORE illegals to flood in help the situation?

Would someone mind explaining this to me? I guess I'm not as smart as these people.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

‘’How in the world are they saying, ‘OK, we’re not going to do anything. We’re going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it.’ “

By straight ahead sentence logic “Not going to do anything” can not be used to describe the process of “continue implementing..”. The “implementing” the US gov’t chooses is woefully inadequate as anyone with a lick of sense can readily observe.

Oh yeah, and it’s “prosecuting”, not “persecuting”.

[Man50D]

We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting prosecuting 12 million people, so be it.' "

There, fixed it.

Now is not the time to let up. We need to pressure our politicians to enforce the existing immigration laws including deporting illegal aliens, building the fence and prosecuting businesses who do business with illegal aliens. The link below is a ping list to pay attention for other questionable legislation being considered in Congress.

Keeping Track Of The Congress Critters

[Greg F]

It really bugged me that all this was discussed without us even knowing the real numbers of illegals involved.

[henkster]

The “persecution” thing grabbed my attention, too.

We can’t forget that where these people come from there is no such thing as “the rule of law.” It’s all about power. That’s exactly why we can’t let these people have any significant presence in the United States UNTIL they are “domesticated” and accept our culture and values.

This bill was one more step toward ending the rule of law in our country, and making America just one more totalitarian regime.

[MCH]

''We thought that the Senate was more mature about issues but, again, politics have prevailed," said Reyes, who emigrated from El Salvador in 1990. ''How in the world are they saying, 'OK, we're not going to do anything. We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it.' "

Too bad you're pissed dude. I guess the majority of Americans didn't feel like the 20 illegal relatives you have living in your basement deserved to become instant citizens with "rights" to our welfare system & free lawyers. Guess you'll have to keep supporting them yourself, or send them back home. Bummer. Guess I'd be pissed too.

[pnh102]

Oh yeah, and it’s “prosecuting”, not “persecuting”.

I was gonna say it was "prostituting" but then I realized you weren't talking about the Senate. Now I feel bad for insulting prostitutes.

[scuba - doo]

Actually, we’re the ones being persecuted. We’ve been taxed for these border jumpers without any real representation from out elected officials for years. Time to again throw the tea in the ocean and burn the ship.

[listenhillary]

My this senate slapdown be our tea party.

[Sacajaweau]

The only thing I can see coming out of this is a statement by Hillary that she will “fix this” when she takes office. “I promise...you will have all the goodies that America has to offer”.

[ElPatriota]

''We thought that the Senate was more mature about issues but, again, politics have prevailed," said Reyes, who emigrated from El Salvador in 1990. ''How in the world are they saying, 'OK, we're not going to do anything. We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it.' "

:) Hmmmm... gone are the days when people would come to this country humbly and grateful!... Now they come - ILLEGALLY I might add - and start giving us orders on how to run our country!!! If they just applied the same BS standards to their countries, perhaps they would not come here to such an immature, racist country.

But more importantly... DO YOU KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS NOWADAYS? Answer: BECAUSE WE ALLOW THEM SO!... Because many in this country go around with their heads up the a** in shame, feeling guilty because we have more and better than other countries.

Worse yet, do you know who is the NUMERO UNO in this regard? Yes, your presidente GWB... is ready to sell the country out.

Ok, end of rant! (I feel better :)

[truthkeeper]

How do you think I feel? I live in SoCalifornia and there has got to be AT LEAST 12 million here! I'm going to start correcting the 12 mil and just start saying 30-40 mil everytime it's brought up.
We all should...it would be far, far closer to the truth than any government propaganda figure anyway.

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

"We're going to continue implementing the immigration law we have right now, and, if that means we continue persecuting 12 million people, so be it."

There's a very simple solution; leave! !Adios! Once you step back over the border your chimera of 'persecution' will end. But while you remain, you continue to persecute us with your demands and agenda.

[Greg F]

Here in South Florida the morning gas stations are filled up 30%, 50% with illegals getting drinks, food, coffee, cigs, etc. for their day in construction and lawn care (jobs that used to be available to Americans).

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I echo your sentiments but I have to be concerned that the components of this bill will now be sliced and diced and fed into the footnotes of future bills Congress will pass in the dead of night. Most likely, 37 elected criminals will nod their semi-concious heads and pass this stuff with no outside notice while folks think their reps are voting on a highway bill.

Beyond the defeat of this package, I am glad for one thing: I think in this instance US citizens were given an unvarnished, glaring view of how their elected representatives are largely at war with their own constituents. I hope the lesson is learned but I have my doubts.

[ishabibble]

Those jacka@@es in Congress wanted to make this complicated, murky, dead wrong amnesty a law that would cost billions of dollars for generations.

THEY CAN’T EVEN BUILD A DAMN FENCE!

They have the law, they have the money, they have the manpower.

WHERE IS THE DAMN FENCE?

[Americanexpat]

He immigrated to US from El Sal in 1990? Did a green card come with that immigratrion or is he one of the 12 million?