Posted on 05/19/2005 6:06:20 PM PDT by SmithL
Los Angeles (AP) --
Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he opposes civilian volunteers patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border to discourage illegal immigration, putting him at odds with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"We need our Department of Homeland Security, which patrols the border ... to address the issue of security," Villaraigosa, who was elected Tuesday, told CNN.
"We have an old saying from the days of the wild, wild West ... leave your gun outside of the city limits," Villaraigosa added. "It doesn't make any sense for people to take the law into their own hands."
In comments last month that were criticized on both sides of the border, Schwarzenegger praised the so-called Minuteman Project in Arizona, which enlisted hundreds of volunteers, some armed, to patrol the Arizona border to document and report illegal crossings.
"I think they've done a terrific job, and look, they've cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants by a huge percentage," the governor said in a radio interview. A day later he called the federal government "irresponsible" because it has not acted to safeguard the borders.
Aides to Schwarzenegger have said the governor would not object to Minuteman volunteers coming to California, but noted that they would not be allowed to carry weapons under state law. President Bush has called the Arizona volunteers "vigilantes."
Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson had no comment on Villaraigosa's remarks.
Villaraigosa spokesman Joe Ramallo said the Minuteman controversy was not a priority for the mayor-elect,
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
leave your gun outside of the city limits
I thought the border was outside the city limits?
That didn't take long...
There isn't a thing wrong with keeping out illegal immigrants. What is wrong with this country? Is there another Western nation that allows anyone to cross their borders? Why is it a scandal for this country to do so? Something has obviously happened to common sense.
Villaraigosa won't be happy until he's living in Alte California, Mexico. I'll never understand some people's zeal to turn this state into the same kind of corrupt pit that Mexicans have been risking their lives to flee.
Yeah, and what about Bush? He and Antonio are ideological soul brothers, when it comes to immigration.
"leave your gun outside of the city limits
I thought the border was outside the city limits?"
It is. This just shows what an incredible idiot the new mayor is (but hey, he's the right color and that's all that seems to matter). And how exactly would he like Homeland Security to "address" this security issue? More lip service?
This is one of the issues that the President and I disagree on.
Give each and every illegal a hug and a kiss for good luck!!! sarc off big time
Hmmmm, wonder why?
Gee. What a surprise. Bye-bye, LA. Hello, Aztlan.
Wasn't viyagarosa elected mayor of LA?
Where does he come off commenting on something way out of his city limits.
Trying to protect his just newly arrived friends and relatives.
How many people know that Villaraigosa is a made up name? It's a combination of his surname (Villar) and his wife's name Raigosa.
Glad I will be Dead in 30 years or sooner. I am so angry at what our elected leaders have done to the America that I once knew. It has become a bad drugstore novel.
Tony Villar doesn't sound nearly as ethnic as Antonio Villaraigoas. Same as with Geraldo "Jerry Rivers" Rivera.
This mayor is as weak on illegal immigration as hillary clinton who says it isn't the fault of illegal aliens they come here looking for work.
Hillary Clinton voted for the ag bill sponsored by craig of idaho.
The ag bill would have allowed all illegal aliens who are working here to become permanent residents within a year.
Hillary Clinton is weak on illegal immigration just look at her voting record.
Trying to protect his just newly arrived friends and relatives VOTERS.
Bush just signed the real ID act which Hillary railed against saying how unfair it was and antonio would never have signed something like that.
Bush signed the bill which would allow for the wall to be completed south of San Diego. Under Bush U.S is using predator spy planes to track illegals which the aclu is against. Under Bush illegals are now flown inland instead of dropped off at the border like they were during hillary and bill's time. Bush is a million times stronger on illegal immigration than hillary or antonio. Is Bush perfect no, could he use better language yes, but bush is still much better than the alternative.
The dem enviornmentalists are against a wall on a large part of the southern border.
LA is already a "sanctuary city," which puts out the welcome map for illegal aliens. It's the city the Denver cop killer fled to. Now, it will be even more of an illegal alien haven under "Mayor Mecha."
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