Immigration Immigration Immigration

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Demonstrators demanding a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants hope that nationwide marches will spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape.

Marches, meetings and voter registration drives were planned Tuesday from California to New York, a year after 1 million flexed their economic muscle in a nationwide boycott during last year's May 1 activities.

Though this year's turnout will likely be lower, organizers say immigrants feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.

"If we don't act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "They won't have the courage to resolve a major situation for millions of people."

In Miami, Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean was scheduled to speak to a coalition of immigrant groups, while Ricardo Chavez, the brother of famed agricultural labor leader Cesar Chavez, was expected address crowds in Milwaukee.

In Washington, D.C., about 400 members of Asian groups from across the country were set to make a lobbying push with lawmakers. Students planned to march in Chicago.

In New York, groups are planning an "American Family Tree" rally, where immigrants will pin paper leaves on a large painting of a tree to symbolize the separation of families because of strict immigration laws.

The event is a response to a White House immigration reform proposal in March, said Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.

The plan would grant illegal immigrants three-year work visas for $3,500 but also require them to return home to apply for U.S. residency and pay a $10,000 fine. It has been roundly criticized by immigrant groups.

Two large demonstrations were planned in Los Angeles County - home to an estimated 1 million illegal immigrants. Some groups in the area have called for an economic boycott and hoped for a repeat of last year, when thousands of immigrants and students stayed away from work and school in a sign of solidarity.

Other groups have rejected the boycott, arguing it puts immigrants' livelihoods at risk and deprives children of valuable classroom time.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, both strong immigrant supporters, urged students to stay in school.

Despite divisions over tactics and other issues, immigration groups and supporters said the diverse events will show the movement is stronger than ever.

"Just because the 12 million people who don't have legal residency don't attend a march doesn't mean they don't want it," said Eduardo "Piolin" Sotelo, a popular Spanish-language disc jockey. "I tell my listeners that no matter what they do, just don't stop doing something."

After last year's protests, reform legislation stalled in Congress and bipartisan proposals for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship have gotten more conservative.

Organizers said Tuesday's turnout will be lower because stepped-up raids in recent months have left many immigrants afraid to speak out in public - a major change over rallies in 2006 when some illegal immigrants wore T-shirts saying "I'm illegal. So what?"

"These raids have torn apart families," said John Crockford, a member of the Central California Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

In Fresno, organizers planned a rally focusing on children whose parents had been deported. The San Joaquin Valley is home to thousands of seasonal workers who work illegally each year in the fields and construction industry.

In Los Angeles, marches were set to include demands for a legalization program, a stop to the raids and an anti-Iraq war message. City and transportation officials were planning for as many as 500,000 people in downtown, believing it could be the largest in the city so far this year.

 

Don't Worry they are "protesting" in Raleigh as well

http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/569610.html

 

NOT NO BUT HELL NO!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

They already do get licenses here in NC, don't they?

 

I am not sure if they get license or not, but I don't know if it is such a bad thing. What better way to get them into 'the system". If they need a DL then they have to provide some info and then they are in the system. In fact, proof of insurance is required (until they let it expire).

 

Makes sense, get them in "the system" collect their fees... But is the information they are supplying to "the system" even valid and is it worth the 10.00??

 

I think *most* of the time at the DMV the documentation that is provided is not accurate in the first place.

 

Pirate that actually steams me a little. That whole list. It is the help me syndrome that is drowning this country now. Always looking for a handout.

Do felons deserve these benefits?? NO

 

Yeah..what she said!

I'm all for LEGAL immigration. Illegal = broke the law. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp?

 

Reading comprehension again there bean man. Surely you are not against!

 

Because some politicians want to take the easy road.

 

I like canned beans. That way I don't know where they come from I shy away from labels.:mrgreen:

 

Mencina had the perfect idea. Pay the current illegals to patrol the border. If they get caught letting another illegal thru they get deported and the one that got thru gets their job. Problem solved.

 

mencia has never had an original idea in his life. he's such a bad comedian.

 

Mencia does have his points. He publicly decries reduced standards of education in the name of social equality. Perhaps he might be easier to understand if one considers his humor in the same vein as that of Mel Brooks. Brooks was known for having no sacred cows, and skewering all groups and stereotypes equally.

 

the problem i have with mencia is not his ideas, its the fact that all of his jokes i've heard before, and his delivery is really pathetic. he just yells, and if its not getting enough laughter he yells louder.

 

Nev,

One can make the argument that there really isn't much original humor, just revamping a theme or twisting it.

Henny Youngman's "Take my wife, please!" is no more or less original than Mencia's "Dee Dee Dee". And, the audience for one is probably not going to be that for the other.

 

Joe Rogan got in his face about it on stage!!!

 

I knew Rogan when he was doing stand up in Tampa. Wasn't funny then, isn't now. Seems to have found his calling on UFC and FF, neither of which I would argue are mainstream. Hello, Kettle, this is Pot. I'll leave his role on "Suddenly Susan" to be evaluated by others.

 

Dang you guys bash everyone. I never do that!!! :mrgreen: