FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD
Posted on 10/02/2002 11:56:18 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
Four Hispanic women say they and "millions" of other Hispanics support Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., in his efforts to curb illegal immigration and impose tighter controls on all U.S. borders.
Writing in the "Opinion" section of the Rocky Mountain Daily News, the women hinted that U.S. policies regarding border control and immigration are influenced by "a tiny minority" of vocal Hispanic activists.
That minority "manipulates the system," they said, while politicians "pander to this voting bloc while implying the ludicrous – that 35 million Hispanics think exactly alike."
"We're outraged that Hispanic activists and the media imply that all Hispanics favor sanctuary for illegal aliens," wrote Carmen Diaz, Corine Flores, Marlene Guerrero and Oralia Lopez, in the Sept. 30 edition of the News.
Flores is a retired housekeeper from Santa Fe, N.M.; Guerrero is a naturalized citizen from Honduras and a spokesperson for the Colorado Alliance for American Immigration Reform; Lopez is a Texas native residing in Colorado; and Diaz is a naturalized citizen from Peru who also lives in Colorado.
"Hispanics demand legalization for Mexican illegals, Hispanics demand safe border crossings, Hispanics demand free tuition for illegals, we are told," the women wrote.
"Absurd! We four Hispanics – and millions of others – want no such thing," they said. "We want borders brought under control and immigration reduced to historical levels. We want illegals sent home. We want politicians and others to stop pandering to self-appointed Hispanic 'leaders' by working for mass immigration or other forms of 'regularizing' for illegal aliens."
Tancredo, as head of the 64-member House Immigration Reform Caucus, has been Congress' most vocal advocate for tougher immigration laws, especially in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
He has advocated using troops to help Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Immigration and Naturalization Service officials patrol the border with Canada and Mexico, as well as limits on legal immigration.
Most recently, Tancredo was criticized by some Hispanic groups and the national Republican Party for informing INS officials about Jesus Apodaca, an Aurora, Colo., honor student who is in the country illegally with his family.
Local media reports, supporters said, even flaunted the fact that Apodaca was here illegally.
The four women said Hispanic "leaders" didn't speak for them.
"We entered this nation legally and respect its laws and are determined that it not go down the same paths to overpopulation-driven poverty and environmental degradation as our native Honduras and Peru," they wrote.
They also said emigration from other countries keeps them from "dealing with their own population and political problems."
A Sept. 27 Zogby poll also showed that 70 percent of Hispanics say a dramatic increase in border enforcement is needed, the women said. And in 2001, a Zogby poll showed that most Hispanics opposed President Bush's proposed amnesty for illegal Mexican immigrants.
"We are a nation of immigrants, but we are not a nation of illegal immigrants and unfettered immigration," they wrote. "Hispanics, like other Americans, do not want to live in overpopulated misery, in a nation lacking opportunity or border security.
"Those issues, not safe harbor for illegal aliens, are our concerns," they said, adding, "On immigration matters, Congressman Tom Tancredo speaks for us and many millions like us."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.