http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 472691.htm

80 protest in Minnesota against legalization
By MARICELLA MIRANDA
St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press
A group of about 80 people braved the cold rain Saturday to call for tighter immigration controls at a rally in downtown Minneapolis.

Led by the group Minnesotans Seeking Immigration Reform, participants were joined by the Minuteman Project, a group that organizes patrols of the nation's borders to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States.

With their umbrellas and raincoats, the small crowd cheered on speakers from organizations opposing proposed changes in national and state immigration laws. The changes could give legal residency and citizenship to illegal immigrants and create a guest-worker program.

Organizers expected a crowd of 500, but the weather likely contributed to the smaller turnout, said Ruthie Hendrucks, founder of the month-old Minnesotans Seeking Immigration Reform. It was the third rally the group has organized.

Calling the show of support "very disappointing," Hendrucks said, "I really believe that a lot of Minnesotans do not understand the risk here, do not understand the issue."

Danielle Britton of Brooklyn Park said she worries her grandchildren might lose out on jobs if the United States opens its borders to immigrants. She supports the country closing its borders to all immigrants. Although some anti-immigration supporters agreed with Britton, others at Saturday's rally supported closing the borders just to illegal immigrants.

The rally came two days before an anticipated nationwide job and economic boycott by immigration supporters. Monday's boycott participants hope to paralyze restaurants, hotels, meatpacking plants and construction sites.