Thread: Immigrant opponents need broader boycott - BOA

http://link.toolbot.com/news-record.com/67425

Immigrant opponents need broader boycott

March 2, 2007
News-Record, Greensboro, North Carolina

Bank of America Chairman Kenneth D. Lewis made a dramatic confession in a Wall Street Journal article recently: "Reports have stated that in some cases illegal immigrants are able to sign up for the bank's products and services. These reports are true."

Outrageous? Some critics think so, including Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, which has called for a boycott of the banking behemoth headquartered in Charlotte.

But Lewis added a reality check about reports of illegal immigrants accessing BOA's products and services: "They also are true for many financial institutions and businesses in our country today."

Sure they are. Illegal immigrants cash paychecks at banks or even deposit them into checking or savings accounts. They use Western Union to wire money to families at home. They also rent houses, pay utility bills, buy cars and purchase other necessities and everyday items, just like legal residents. No one is calling for, or should call for, a boycott of all those businesses whose customers might be illegal immigrants. The money is legal, and it passes through everyone's hands.

BOA is targeted because of a pilot program it launched in Los Angeles that critics contend markets credit cards to illegals. Customers, who must have had a checking or savings account with the bank for three months, don't need a Social Security number. Instead, they can use identification issued by Mexican consulates or other foreign governments.

This constitutes "preferential treatment" over American credit consumers, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC says. That's a thin claim, because few Americans are denied the chance to hold credit cards unless they've had trouble paying debts. The BOA program requires a security deposit and charges high interest rates. That doesn't sound preferential.

Lewis calls the initiative a way for customers to "build a solid credit history with a leading bank." Should the bank care if those customers are in the country illegally? Sure, as much as anyone cares. But, beyond complying with all federal, state and local regulations, banks and other businesses aren't responsible for enforcing immigration laws. People who aren't eligible to live in the United States should be deported by the U.S. government. Until that happens, everyone who lives here is going to participate in the nation's economic system one way or another. Those who don't use credit cards might borrow from payday lenders or loan sharks.

Boycotting a bank because some of its customers are illegal immigrants makes as much sense as punishing schools, churches and restaurants for the same reason. Can everyone boycott everyone else?

My reply to the article. Let's see if they have the guts to print it.

Boycott bias

It starts with the headline, conveniently omitting the applicable term 'illegal' before the misnomer 'immigrant'. According to Webster's, an immigrant is a foreigner who comes to a new country within the confines of that country's laws. Obviously that term does not apply to the subject at hand.

It continues with the excuse that 'everybody is doing it', speaking of the complicity of other banks and businesses catering to the needs of people with NO LEGAL RIGHT to be here. I guess all is fair in the pursuit of profits. Never mind the fact that it is a violation of Federal law to aid and abet an illegal alien to remain in the country, punishable by 5 years in prison and a massive fine. Especially don't mind that those penalties DOUBLE if said aiding and abetting is done for commercial gain.

Then we get some pablum about Mexican Matricula Consular cards, the most fraudulent form of ID ever created. D.A. King of The Dustin Inman Society has TWO of them. This is a SECURE ID?

Following that we get "Sure, as much as any anyone cares.", leading the undiscerning reader to believe that, in fact, no one does care, a direct contradiction to the entire premise of the 'article', a boycott of BofA by people who care very much. Over 20,000 people have signed the petition at www.bankofamericaboycott.com and the number is growing daily.

Finally we get the last sentence, the punch line, if you will, "Boycotting a bank because some of its customers are illegal immigrants makes as much sense as punishing schools, churches and restaurants for the same reason. Can everyone boycott everyone else?"

The bank is being boycotted for intentionally targeting illegal aliens as customers, in direct contravention, if not of the letter of the Federal law, then certainly of the spirit of it.

For more information about the boycott visit www.alipac.us, the largest repository of information about the illegal alien influx and it's detrimental effects on our nation.

Guilt trips don't work here. We know what is right and WHAT HAS BEEN WRONG TOO LONG IN THIS COUNTRY.

America is waking up and being proactive in doing something about it. We are not going to sit idlely by and watch our country being sold out and laws broken.


Great comments Pinestrawguys

schools, churches and restaurants for the same reason. Can everyone boycott everyone else?"

Glad that was mentioned , I haven't been to a Mexican restaurant in almost 2 years , I don't intend to ever go back either .

Great article Pinestraw. Wouldn't it be curious if it happened to get posted on a couple of poles right outside BofA banks.