Thread: Houston: Mayoral race takes up immigration

Mayoral race takes up immigration

Positions could anger Hispanic activists

By BRADLEY OLSON
Copyright 2009 Houston Chonicle
July 17, 2009, 9:42PM

The city's plans to step up cooperation with federal authorities in efforts to deport illegal immigrants is garnering new debate in the 2009 mayoral contest.

Latino advocates have pressed candidates to distance themselves from Mayor Bill White's request that Houston be allowed to participate in two federal programs that, at least within the confines of the city's jails, would put police officers in the immigration enforcement business.

While each of the four major candidates generally opposes diverting too many resources to immigration enforcement, they all support the thrust of the city's new effort to screen jail inmates and turn over suspected illegal immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Those positions could upset Latino activists in light of a recent Houston Chronicle story showing that only a small percentage of illegal immigrants processed for deportation in a similar Harris County program had committed serious felony crimes. The divide could be on display at a mayoral forum today.

“This has an impact on cooperation with law enforcement, reporting of crime, and folks participating in the census,â€

Those positions could upset Latino activists in light of a recent Houston Chronicle story showing that only a small percentage of illegal immigrants processed for deportation in a similar Harris County program had committed serious felony crimes.

Where do these idiots keep getting the notion that only illegal aliens who commit serious crimes are eligible for deportation. According to our immigration laws, all illegal aliens are subject to deportation. Do they think saying it enough times will eventually make it true?

The Mayor and the City Council action is to talk about what to do and to always pay their respect to all Police Officers and Citizens murdered by ILLEGALS but continue their Sanctuary City Policy to maybe when the FEDS get around to Enforcing our Immigration Laws; of course during their thoughtful reflection many more Citizens will be MURDERED by ILLEGALS!

Locke comes out on top at debate
Panel of undecided Hispanics is pleased with former Houston city attorney
By BRADLEY OLSON
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
July 18, 2009, 9:08PM

A panel of undecided Latino voters deemed former City Attorney Gene Locke the winner of a mayoral debate held Saturday to woo Houston's largest ethnic population.

The two-hour forum, organized by a political consultant and city councilman who have expressed skepticism about some of the city of Houston's immigration-related policies, touched on issues of fairness for Hispanics in public housing, jail screening and electoral representation.

The consensus among the five panelists was that Locke connected with important community issues more than his opponents, who include City Controller Annise Parker, City Councilman Peter Brown and Harris County Board of Education Trustee Roy Morales.

“Locke did better because he focused more on the effect his administration would have on Latinos,â€

According to U.S. Census estimates, Hispanics represent about 42 percent of Houston's 2.2 million population, although some demographers believe their numbers may surpass 50 percent after the 2010 census.

Wow, you've got to be kidding. Do we have anyone on ALIPAC that resides in Houston? Is it possible that 1.1 million of the 2.2 million people living in Houston are Hispanic?

I don't have a problem with it if they are American citizens, just find it difficult to believe.