Posted on 04/21/2005 8:54:32 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN BERNARDINO - In the immigration battle being waged at the border, a local network of largely Latino activists is taking a new tack to counter volunteers who are monitoring the border for illegal crossings.
On May 1, the National Alliance for Human Rights will try to "close the border' by persuading those intending to cross over legally from Agua Prieta, Mexico, to Douglas, Ariz., not to do so for several hours.
The strategy "is a notice' to Minuteman project volunteers, who have recently announced their plans to extend their Arizona-border monitoring project for several additional months and to other states, said Armando Navarro, a UC Riverside professor and an alliance coordinator.
"The intent is not just to dramatize the interdependency of the economy and the role the immigrant plays to our economy ... but secondly, (it is) to make sure the pressure on the administration to get off its you-know-what and start moving in the direction of some real immigration reform,' Navarro said.
The preliminary strategy was unveiled Wednesday at a news conference at La Placita Park in San Bernardino.
Minuteman project volunteers said they will not be deterred from their mission.
"We find it somewhat strange that this group would be supporting those whose very first act in coming here is to break the laws of the land,' said Fred Elbel, Minuteman project spokesman.
Business leaders in Douglas said the boycott would have a detrimental effect on both Mexico and the United States.
"The people that they are hurting wouldn't have a role in anything that has occurred. The city, the county, the merchants haven't asked (the Minutemen) to come,' said Larry Blaskey, president of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce. "We know we depend on Mexico as a big piece of our economy.'
Blaskey said that 90 percent of the city's population is Latino and that 40 percent of the city's economy comes from Mexico.
In addition, many residing in the United States go to Mexican pharmacies as well as dental and doctors' offices, he said.
The National Alliance for Human Rights and other groups organized a rally in Agua Prieta and participated in monitoring the Minuteman project earlier this month.
Navarro said he has made contact with Mexican political and religious leaders and immigrant advocates to create support for the plan. The idea to shut down the border came from a woman in Agua Prieta who had concerns about the Minuteman project, he said.
While Navarro and other activists have accused the Minuteman project of racism, project volunteers contend they only want the nation's laws to be upheld and for the nation to be secure.
Some Latino activists, such as the Brown Berets de Aztlan, will be stationed at the Mexican side of the border to advise border crossers to take another route. Others will be there to monitor the situation.
Navarro and others argue that some sort of legalization program would be the best way to resolve the immigration crisis.
"We don't want anything gifted to us,' said Antonio Madrigal Ayala, a volunteer adviser to Mexican citizens who live in the United States. "We don't get welfare. We don't get Social Security, but we hope that in the future, there will be a legalization (of undocumented residents).'
Ooooooh!!! I'm soooo scared!!!
NINE BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!
That's what it's costing taxpayers to allow illegals to stay here. NINE BILLION!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
That ought to work really well. NOT.
According to an article on yahoo, the Minuteman Project ended when the media left...???
"On May 1, the National Alliance for Human Rights will try to "close the border' by persuading those intending to cross over legally from Agua Prieta, Mexico, to Douglas, Ariz., not to do so for several hours."
Sounds to me like they're targeting legal immigrants and visitors.
Hopefully they will not use heavy handed tactics to "persuade" these people entering legally, that could get very ugly.
Actually, they don't seem to be giving any aid to anyone who's intending to commit an illegal act. Read it again.
Navarro and others argue that some sort of legalization program would be the best way to resolve the immigration crisis.
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The primary way to end it, is to enforce our laws and CLOSE OUR BORDERS TO ILLEGAL TRAFFIC. Thank you Washington, DC. Then allow ONLY LEGALIZED immigrants to enter under government control and the threat of U.S. law if they don't play by the rules. Just for openers.
BS! County hospitals all over the USA are being used to treat everything from runny noses to kidney transplants for illegals. (yes, kidney transplants! my local one did). All this at great cost to taxpayers!
I'm a little confused by this tactic. It's like shopping at Wal Mart to protest globalism.
will try to "close the border' by persuading those intending to cross over legally from Agua Prieta, Mexico, to Douglas, Ariz., not to do so for several hours.
So let me get this straight. If you are trying to enter the US legally, this group wants to stop you. However, if you want to cross illegally, this group has no problems. Does anybody else see a small flaw here????
Gee, that's like threatening to shut down the government. My response is, "so what's the downside?"
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