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).'
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.
Why would you meet a border crosser in Mexico and advise them to take another route, if they want to cross leagally? This group wants to hold all legally entitled immigrants at the crossing in Mexico to block the point of entry. You can't block an entry point if you are advising them to take another route.
Navarro is running for first governor of Atzlan.
Isn't blocking a legal crossing illegal to begin with?
" we hope that in the future, there will be a legalization"
THERE ALREADY IS, YOU MORON!! BECOME A CITIZEN!!!
Sounds like fertile ground for the RICO statutes.
I thought a port of entry is a legal way to enter. A hole in the fence is illegal. My feeling is as they cross the hole in the fence, arrest and charged. That means more border control. The feds are letting us down. Minutemen are justified.
Here's a couple searches to try:
"old white people" "brown berets"
- and -
"armando navarro" "terms of an Aztlan"
Those searches will reveal some interesting quotes from a Brown Beret and from Prof. Navarro.
If you'd like to suggest that the SB Sun does a better job and reports on the backgrounds of those they feature, their editor is: steve.lambert@sbsun.com
"In addition, many residents residing in the United States go to mexican pharmacies as well as dental and doctors's offices, he said."
For free?
"Navarro and others argue that some sort of legalization program would be the best way to resolve the immigration crisis."
We HAVE a legalization process. Its been in process for generations and thousands of people use it. Its called legal immigration.
I wonder what Navarro and his ilk think about Aztlan??? Is he supportive of "returning" the American southwest to Mexico?? Is THAT their hidden agenda???
What Mexico and the Mexicans want with respect to American border policies is irrelevant to us and SHOULD be to our politicians. What the American people want is what is relevant here. Its OUR border. And judging from the responses of the vast majority of Americans, we want our borders SHUT to illegal invaders.
If we need more workers here - which I find it hard to believe - then we should raise the quota for legal immigrants. We shouldn't set up a cockamamie "guest worker" program. It would lead to a permanent underclass of residents who would live in a quasi-legal limbo similar to the illegals already here.
If somebody doesn't want to come to America to become an American citizen and live the American dream, but just wants to come here for some quick bucks and then skedaddle back to wherever they came from - I don't want him here.
Unless the National Republican Leadership gets behind Tancredo, Sensenbrenner, et al on this issue, they will suffer at the polls from people like me who just won't come out to vote for individuals who want to abrogate the primary responsibility of our governement - defense of our national borders.
Get home and business / NGO addresses for those who coddle and promote illegals. Swing by Home Depot with pick ups. Pay "los obreros" there to essentially sit on lawn chairs out in front of each address with signs in English and Spanish: "Brought to you by MeCHA" / "Llevado a usted por MeCHA." Fight fire with fire.
Are you kidding?????? Free is only in America and then mainly for illegals, and other leeches on society.
Are you kidding?????? Free is only in America and then mainly for illegals, and other leeches on society.
They are. They already make no distinction between illegal aliens and immigrants and this "demonstration" will try to erase (in the public's mind) any distinction between the wide open border and the legal ports of entry.
"That's what it's costing taxpayers to allow illegals to stay here. NINE BILLION! "
Sounds like a really low estimate to me.
"Sounds like a really low estimate to me."
well that's just in California!
For free?<<
I hear that some prescription drugs are cheaper in Mexico and dental work is cheap is well. Many legal immigrants do go to Mexico for these services.
But, it is still the US Taxpayer that bears the burden for the illegals medical care, education, food, shelter, etc.
apparently not in Mexico. Otherwise you KNOW the Mexican Federales would halt it immediately, Presidente Fox being such a fine friend of the United States and all....
(excuse me while I go and gag now.....)
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