Thread: FL: Rally Held Against Illegal Immigration

Rally Held Against Illegal Immigration

Last Update: 3/01 9:11 pm

Reported by: Danielle Dubetz
Photographer: Andy Grosek

Just about every weekend there's a protest outside of El Sol, a center that helps
laborers, regardless of their legal status, find work.

Today the gathering was a protest and a political platform.

Feet away from El Sol, Jupiter's Neighborhood Resource Center,
people held American flags and rallied against illegal immigration.

State Representative Gayle Harrell was also in attendance, to push House Bill 8-21.

"What we have now are illegals coming across the border walking into our emergency rooms, coming here getting jobs, and having broken the law to start with," Harrell said.

Most people want tougher immigration reform but not everyone here agrees.

Elena Garcia came to America as an unaccompanied child, now a U.S. citizen, it wasn't long before she found herself in a heated debate.

"This is a big country, there's a lot of people and the reason it has prosperity is because of the immigrants. Immigrants are human beings, whether they are legal or illegal," Garcia said.

"If they're legal immigrants, fine. We want them, we need them, we're all immigrants," said one protestor, "We're all children of immigrants. We need immigrants to build this country so I have no problem whatsoever with that. The key word is LEGAL!"

Another group was just as passionate.

"I am a legal immigrant-slash-citizen. I waited for 5 years to get my citizenship. I've been in this country for over 50 years. I earned for everything. But when somebody comes in and wants everything for nothing, I'm against it," said Kyria Kidis who's originally from Greece.

"What's the big beef?" asked reporter, Danielle Dubetz.

"That we're being ripped off big time by the government by allowing illegals to stay in the country," said another protestor.

They say they welcome law-abbiding immigrants, as long as they're legal.

"As much as you want to say they pay taxes, they don't!" he said.

El Sol disagrees. Representatives said undocumented immigrants pay taxes any time they make a purchase, including rent.

They also said they'd like to see immigration reform, one that can help those who are already here become citizens and eliminate the necessity for places like El Sol

www.wptv.com

El Sol disagrees. Representatives said undocumented immigrants pay taxes any time they make a purchase, including rent.

ROFL! Tourists pay sales tax when they make a purchase too. I don't see them getting education, medical, housing assistance, welfare, medicare, food stamps, WIC or any social services for nothing, do ya?

They also don't take American jobs and wire BILLIONS of dollars back home, depressing not only wages, but our economy.

Get a clue!

El Sol disagrees. Representatives said undocumented immigrants pay taxes any time they make a purchase, including rent.

Great! This idiot believes that paying sales tax on a loaf of bread constitutes paying Federal or State Income Tax. I give up

It's so frustrating to have an honest dedate with people who are this ignorant. It really is. Places like el sol should be illegal and if our government had a backbone, it would be shut down tomorrow.

Anti-immigrant protest targets day-labor site
By DWAYNE ROBINSON

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 02, 2008

JUPITER — John and Wendy Donahue say they lost their jobs, they lost their home and now they've lost their patience with what they see as the main culprit: illegal immigration.

"It's impossible to find a job," said Wendy, mother of four, ages 14 to 21. "These illegals are undercutting wages."


Formerly local home painters, the Donahues were two of about 100 protesters Saturday outside of the El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center in Jupiter. The day-labor center connects undocumented immigrants with local employers.

"It's the Taj Mahal in there," said Wendy, 36. "They get served coffee, doughnuts - a waiting lounge."

El Sol clients and representatives had a counterdemonstration, a prayer vigil that was, at times, drowned out by the honking car horns or jeers from sign- and flag-waving opponents at Indiantown Road and Military Trail.

The federal illegal immigration debate is playing itself out on Palm Beach County streets. And this work center has become the focus of a town council campaign and now a congressional primary election.

"To us, it's not an immigration problem," El Sol president Mike Richmond said. "It's a local problem for the Town of Jupiter."

That problem was the hordes of undocumented workers who formerly clogged busy intersections and residential neighborhoods, grappling for a spot in the back of a pickup truck and a hard days work.

Now, State Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, wants to shut down El Sol.

"This should be a federal issue," Harrell said of illegal immigration. "And the federal government needs to step up to the plate. ... But given they're not, the state government needs to do what it can."

Harrell's Florida Safe Borders Act (HB 821) would bar any county or municipality from creating, operating, funding or even assisting with any day-labor center aiding undocumented immigrants.

Jupiter helped establish El Sol, partly by buying it a building for $2 million, which its operator, Catholic Charities of Palm Beach Inc., now leases for $1 a year.

"We should not use those scarce resources, these taxpayer dollars, to help illegals get jobs," Harrell said.

Harrell joined the weekly protests at El Sol Saturday to bolster support for her bill and her candidacy to succeed U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens.

It's not clear what penalty local governments would face for aiding such day-laborer centers, based on the bill's language. But protesters said the centers encourage further illegal immigration.

El Sol representatives disputed the idea that it is a magnet for undocumented workers.

"Immigrants have been coming here for 20 years," Richmond said. "Workers came before there was a center like this.

"We think this is one of the best investments a town can make."

Protesters on both sides acknowledged that El Sol has been effective to some degree in reducing congregations of workers at places like Center Street.

Inside El Sol, undocumented workers play chess, eat meals and await job assignments through a lottery system. While there, they also have job training courses, computer classes and civic training.

Ironically, as some protesters outside Saturday called for undocumented immigrants to learn English, that's exactly what the undocumented workers were doing inside El Sol.

A 27-year-old from Mexico was one of them, doing so after living in America illegally for seven years. He no longer seeks work on Jupiter's streets.

"Before this center, when we were in the streets, it was very difficult," he said. "The one who was stronger would get the job. ... This has order, and we have opportunities for everybody."

www.palmbeachpost.com

"This is a big country, there's a lot of people and the reason it has prosperity is because of the immigrants. Immigrants are human beings, whether they are legal or illegal," Garcia said.

Ya know, this arguement is way passed being old. It's long dead and buried at this point. Can't they come up with anything new?

One could argue that every prisoner in every prison in the world is a human being too. It doesn't mean that they aren't criminals and that they shouldn't be punished!

Quote:
"This is a big country, there's a lot of people and the reason it has prosperity is because of the immigrants. Immigrants are human beings, whether they are legal or illegal," Garcia said.

Once again, the term " illegal alien" does not refer to someone's humanity. It does however refer to one's immigration status and that's the issue.

So Mr. Garcia, please stop confusing the humanity of an individual with his legal status since they are completely different and distinct issues. Those who oppose illegal immigration are not the ones confusing the two concepts.

"What's the big beef?" asked reporter, Danielle Dubetz.

If this reporter doesn't know what the "big beef" is, what the he!! is she doing reporting on the rally?

Originally Posted by sippy

"This is a big country, there's a lot of people and the reason it has prosperity is because of the immigrants. Immigrants are human beings, whether they are legal or illegal," Garcia said.

Ya know, this argument is way past being old. It's long dead and buried at this point. Can't they come up with anything new?

Why come up with anything new when the tired old spin continues to work so well?

If they need a job what the hell is the unemployment office for?

This whole day labor thing is nothing but corrupt crooks on all ends running this. Encouraging people to picj up and use day laborers they know nothing about and what if the worker or the home owner gets hurt? Thats why there are legal business standards, and a code of ethics about doing business. These people are total dirts bags that just want a dollar and a vote.