Thread: Illegal alien backing Romney

Illegal immigrant backing Romney


Esther J. Cepeda, San Antonio Express-News

Esther J. Cepeda, Washington Post Writers Group
Updated 4:38 p.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Native American author Sherman Alexie, “The Toughest Indian in the World,” once dropped this bit of wisdom: “Don't live up to your stereotypes.”

No one would accuse Manuel Guerra Casas of that. For years he has fought against anti-immigrant legislation, such as Arizona's law, and for the passing of the federal DREAM Act. Casas is, as the slogan goes, “undocumented and unafraid.” But more than anything else, he's unsupportive of President Barack Obama — in fact, he's a vocal Mitt Romney fan.

“Some people call me crazy and, yes, it's hard to understand being undocumented and being for the candidate of self-deportation and no amnesty for immigrants,” said Casas, 28, a landscaper from Port St. Lucie, Fla., who has been living in U.S. for 12 years. “But, yes, I am supporting Mitt Romney to become the next president of the United States even though he pretty much doesn't want me to contribute and serve this country.

“I talk to my co-workers, I tell them about Obama. At first they don't agree but after I talk to them about the mass deportations, the Secure Communities program, about how he didn't even file an immigration bill in Congress, people start listening.”

Casas says he spends a lot of time explaining that he doesn't hate immigrants or himself, that he's not “a traitor to his people” and hasn't sold his soul to the devil.

“The immigration issue is a personal interest,” he says. “And even though it is very important to me, so is my faith. You have to look at the bigger picture — there are other important things that are at risk in this election, other challenges than immigration. There is freedom of religion and the values, principles and morals that created the foundation of this country.”

A staunch pro-lifer, Casas has much in common with evangelical Protestant Hispanics who account for just 16 percent of Latino registered voters, according to a recent Pew Hispanic Center survey.

Only 39 percent of such voters support Romney.

“I have a lot of people from around the country send me messages that they do support Governor Romney and I know they don't want to post it on my Facebook or say it out loud because they're undocumented and they don't want to speak out because they'll get punched in the face right away,” he says.

“But other undocumented Romney supporters are like me; they saw the DREAM Act fail because not enough Democrats voted for it and know it's all a political game — some Democrats don't want immigration so they can use it against Republicans in each election.

We think Romney talks about self-deportation to satisfy his conservative base, but if there's someone who can do something for immigrants, it's going to be Governor Romney. ”

This is not a popular opinion, nor do I believe it is a pervasive one. In fact it's probably the exception that proves the rule, but it is oh-so-American. And only in America's crazy quilt of old and new pilgrims would you find a member of a marginalized group happy to endure public humiliation and personal threats to participate in a political process that so many who are entitled to simply tune out.

estherjcepeda@washpost.com.

Illegal immigrant backing Romney - San Antonio Express-News

We think Romney talks about self-deportation to satisfy his conservative base, but if there's someone who can do something for immigrants, it's going to be Governor Romney. ”

So pretty much this illegal immigrants argument is that Romney is lying to Conservatives and will stab conservatives in the back and go for amnesty for illegals and be more effective at getting it passed?

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

So pretty much this illegal immigrants argument is that Romney is lying to Conservatives and will stab conservatives in the back and go for amnesty for illegals and be more effective at getting it passed?

W

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This government has more UNENFORCED immigration laws than any country in the world. The root cause is greed and profiteering off of illegal alien labor. This is a no-brainer. What this country needs is a leader who will simply ENFORCE immigration laws, thus protecting both American Citizens AND illegal aliens.

Once immigration laws are enforced, Mexicans can come and work in this country legally and in a secure and respectable environment. This will also ensure American Citizens are given first picks on all and any available employment.

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

. . . What this country needs is a leader who will simply ENFORCE immigration laws, thus protecting both American Citizens AND illegal aliens.

YES. But neither Obama or Romney will do that.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

YES. But neither Obama or Romney will do that.

What are you basing this on? Romney has always supported enforcement of our immigration laws. Actually that is one issue he can't be accused of flipping on.

Mitt Romney on Immigration

Obama said he'd reform our immigration system but he didn't. (Oct 2012) Support the E-Verify portion of the Arizona immigration law. (Oct 2012) Focus on reuniting families instead of diversity or DREAMers. (Sep 2012) Self-deportation: people make their own choice about leaving. (Sep 2012) High-tech fence for 2,000 miles on Mexican border. (Jun 2012) Enforce employment laws; illegal immigrants will self-deport. (Jan 2012) English should be the official language of the US. (Jan 2012) Alien employment cards ; not amnesty. (Nov 2011) I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people. (Nov 2011) Current system is concrete wall against best & brightest. (Nov 2011) Of course a border fence; of course no free tuition. (Sep 2011) Build 2,600-mile fence with enough guards to secure it. (Sep 2011) I like legal immigration; let business determine visas. (Aug 2011) Immigration practices are upside down: more hi-tech visas. (Mar 2010) Ardent proponent of English immersion. (Mar 2010) GovWatch: 2005: Called comprehensive reform “reasonable”. (Feb 200 Deport illegal immigrants in 90 days under the ideal setting. (Jan 200 Illegal immigrants should go home eventually. (Dec 2007) No mandatory prison term for employers who hire illegals. N(Dec 2007) FactCheck: Took hard-line on illegals, but only late in term. (Dec 2007) Welcome the people who have been standing in line first. (Dec 2007) Employers have no means of knowing who’s legal & who’s not. (Dec 2007) Avoid chain migration; disallow families from one citizen. (Dec 2007) FactCheck: Illegals employed at his home, but by contractor. (Nov 2007) Z-visa is not technically amnesty; but is in fact amnesty. (Sep 2007) Make America more attractive for legal immigrants. (Aug 2007) Priorities: secure border, employer verification, no amnesty. (Aug 2007) Enforce the law against 12 million illegals here now. (Jun 2007) Make English national language; communicate in Spanish too. (Jun 2007) Keep rule barring immigrants from running for president. (May 2007) The 12 million illegal immigrants can’t stay forever. (Jan 2006) Unfair to allow all illegal immigrants to stay. (Jan 2006) Mitt Romney on the Issues

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Mitt Romney on Immigration

Obama said he'd reform our immigration system but he didn't. (Oct 2012) Support the E-Verify portion of the Arizona immigration law. (Oct 2012) Focus on reuniting families instead of diversity or DREAMers. (Sep 2012) Self-deportation: people make their own choice about leaving. (Sep 2012) High-tech fence for 2,000 miles on Mexican border. (Jun 2012) Enforce employment laws; illegal immigrants will self-deport. (Jan 2012) English should be the official language of the US. (Jan 2012) Alien employment cards ; not amnesty. (Nov 2011) I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people. (Nov 2011) Current system is concrete wall against best & brightest. (Nov 2011) Of course a border fence; of course no free tuition. (Sep 2011) Build 2,600-mile fence with enough guards to secure it. (Sep 2011) I like legal immigration; let business determine visas. (Aug 2011) Immigration practices are upside down: more hi-tech visas. (Mar 2010) Ardent proponent of English immersion. (Mar 2010) GovWatch: 2005: Called comprehensive reform “reasonable”. (Feb 200 Deport illegal immigrants in 90 days under the ideal setting. (Jan 200 Illegal immigrants should go home eventually. (Dec 2007) No mandatory prison term for employers who hire illegals. N(Dec 2007) FactCheck: Took hard-line on illegals, but only late in term. (Dec 2007) Welcome the people who have been standing in line first. (Dec 2007) Employers have no means of knowing who’s legal & who’s not. (Dec 2007) Avoid chain migration; disallow families from one citizen. (Dec 2007) FactCheck: Illegals employed at his home, but by contractor. (Nov 2007) Z-visa is not technically amnesty; but is in fact amnesty. (Sep 2007) Make America more attractive for legal immigrants. (Aug 2007) Priorities: secure border, employer verification, no amnesty. (Aug 2007) Enforce the law against 12 million illegals here now. (Jun 2007) Make English national language; communicate in Spanish too. (Jun 2007) Keep rule barring immigrants from running for president. (May 2007) The 12 million illegal immigrants can’t stay forever. (Jan 2006) Unfair to allow all illegal immigrants to stay. (Jan 2006) Mitt Romney on the Issues

- Support the E-Verify portion of the Arizona immigration law. (Oct 2012)
- High-tech fence for 2,000 miles on Mexican border. (Jun 2012)
- Enforce employment laws; illegal immigrants will self-deport. (Jan 2012)
- Of course a border fence; of course no free tuition. (Sep 2011)
- Build 2,600-mile fence with enough guards to secure it. (Sep 2011)
- Deport illegal immigrants in 90 days under the ideal setting. (Jan 200)
- Priorities: secure border, employer verification, no amnesty. (Aug 2007)
- Enforce the law against 12 million illegals here now. (Jun 2007)
- Unfair to allow all illegal immigrants to stay. (Jan 2006)