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."

[gubamyster]

ping

[rsflynn]

It’s a no fun, bein’ an ILLEGAL a-lien...

[Unicorn]

Send them back ,build the fence.

[tumblindice]

“how exactly does allowing millions upon millions of MORE illegals to flood in help the situation?”

Another reason they’re sore is that newly legal citizens act as `spring-boards’ or safe havens for the next wave, providing shelter, food and jobs for their (illegal) friends and relatives.
A lot of coyotes are prolly facing angry “undocumented Americans” these past 24 hours demanding their dinero back.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

''We thought that the Senate was more mature about issues but, again, politics have prevailed," said Reyes...

Political issues do tend to stir up political activities, Senor Reyes.

[brityank]

Is there any doubt that the LSM is undermining the USA?

[Tokra]

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

There, fixed it.

There, fixed it further.

[truthkeeper]

If we employ as much vigor in pressuring Congress to expedite the building of the fence/wall, the American people will have won a mammoth victory.
That will be next on the agenda. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

Yesterday we took that first step.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Sincerely, I admire your optimism and faith in the system. Cynically, IMO the “system” has been hacked.

[truthkeeper]

You misread my post...I have NO faith in the system. Only in the few remaining patriots left in government and the strength and will of the American people.

[Red_Devil 232]

You make some great points!

[showme_the_Glory]

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

We know how to play the game and we know how to win. Let's keep the heat on state and local law enforcement agencies to actively apprehend and prosecute all these illegal invaders.

[henkster]

Thanks.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m in favor of immigration. My grandfather went through Ellis Island. But he did so LEGALLY, and even though he and grandma only spoke Macedonian in the house, he was NOT here to turn the United States into Macedonia!

Go to any legal immigrant’s small business and they’ve got more American flags on display than anyone else. Not so with the illegals.

Let’s take the “best and brightest” of the world who want to better their lives as AMERICANS!!! We have no use for the rest!

[Red_Devil 232]

The only thing I can see coming out of this is a statement by Hillary that she will “fix this” when she takes office."

That would be the DREAM plan! If you are an illegale and successfully elude the police and ICE for five years you automatically become a citizen!

[Sloth]

"...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.' "

I freaking wish.

[Badeye]

While attending a conference in Vegas this past week I met a man in charge of a very large government run entity in Houston (I won’t name the ‘entity’ for the obvious reason).

He’s desperate to leave Houston due to the huge uptick in crime related to the Katrina evacuation. The stories he told me about entire neighborhoods literally ‘overnight’ becoming gangbanger’s heaven are stunning.

I felt very sorry for the guy, he’s a year away from retirement, with very few financially viable options for flight from his home city.

[dragnet2]

But, others, like Nelson Reyes, executive director of the Gulfton Area Neighborhood Organization, expressed raw anger over the doomed reform measure. How in the world are they saying, 'OK, we're not going to do anything.

This communist don't know what anger is. This guys thinks Americans are just going to sit quietly and watch while our leaders continue to stand around with their heads up the butts?

His anger is just fabricated, used as a tool, in a continued effort to undermine this country.

Won't work or fly anymore.

This guy hasn't seen real anger yet. He is too stupid to realize the worst thing you can do is get slow to anger Americans pissed off.

They are reaching that point en-mass.

[CSM]

“...we continue persecuting 12 million people,...”

I didn’t realize there were so many masochists in the world. I couldn’t imagine voluntarily going somewhere for persecution.

[Aria]

I heard one of the special reporters on Michael Savage the other day saying something similar - that letting in these third world people we wouldn’t change them as much as they’d change us. He has many examples of shocking corruption and many of these people just don’t know any better and aren’t likely to learn by being given handouts as rewards for illegal behavior.

Let’s face it, this was an attempt to buy votes or underscale labor. We can’t expect the targets of this to learn anything other than being an extortionist pays.

[BornInASmallTown]

"...entire neighborhoods literally ‘overnight’ becoming gangbanger’s heaven..."
Yes, and unfortunately, that's the kind of information that never makes it onto the 6:00 news. I am delighted that the "marketed" image of the immigration proposal...of decent, hard-working, God-fearing people lining up for nothing more than to participate in the American dream...was seen as EXACTLY that...a marketing ploy. Obviously, there are people in other countries who DO want to come here and work hard and obey the rules and be a part of America. But we also got to witness Mexican flags waved in the streets of Los Angeles and cries for "amnistia" and "reconquista"... And because the "12 million" illegals here right now represent an ESTIMATE, not an actual figure, we have no way of knowing how many of them break OTHER laws (in addition to entering the country illegally). This "legislation" was proof positive of the old adage about fooling some of the people some of the time. This time, the American people were not fooled, and it was wonderful to see so many speak out and make their opinions heard.