Illegal Immigration: Americans Fighting Back - 200 at Phoenix tea party rally against illegal immigration

As she lent her support to an anti-illegal immigration tea party Saturday, Brandy Baron couldn't help but think of her Hispanic grandparents.

The pair came from Mexico to the United States but only because they had work waiting for them, the Phoenix resident said. "They did it the right way."

Baron was one of at least 200 people who showed for the rally Saturday morning at the state Capitol in Phoenix.

Subject: illegal immigration, amnesty, protest, rally, Phoeniz, AZ, immigration, illegal aliens, immigrants

by Connie Cone Sexton
Nov. 14, 2009 01:10 PM
The Arizona Republic

Many carried signs. Baron displayed her message on her T-shirt: "It's not about hate for any people or race. It's about love for our country and pride." The 53-year-old retired massage therapist said she doesn't want to see the country given over to "tax breakers."

Even though her father's parents were Hispanic, she doesn't consider herself a Mexican-American. She dislikes the term. "I'm an American."

Jacque Jacobsen, 56, held the American flag high and said she came out to giver her support, thankful for the cool weather.

"So many people are just bleeding the system," said Jacobsen, who works 34 hours a week for a laser manufacturing company. The Phoenix resident has health care but is concerned too much pressure on the medical system could put that coverage in jeopardy.

When 15-year-old girls come from Mexico to give birth, it's not fair, she said. "I don't mind helping people out but they need to become legal, do what's right."

Today's event was organized by the Phoenix group American Citizens United. Similar tea parties were expected to be held today in cities across the country. The events are said to be aimed at gathering opposition to the comprehensive immigration-reform bill Democrats in Congress plan to introduce, possibly by the end of this month.

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