Thread: MO: Hispanics decry illegal alien bills

Hispanics decry illegal alien bills
By ABRAHAM MAHSHIE of the Tribune’s staff
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - More than 150 members of Missouri’s Hispanic community united their voices for the seventh annual Hispanic Day yesterday in hopes they could drown out rhetoric they said is creating a discriminatory environment for legal Hispanic residents.

"In the last two years, we perceive there has been a panic about our Hispanic community," said Rafael Nun MarÃ*n, a retired Army colonel and past president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in St. Louis.

Nun MarÃ*n and others believe that more than 30 illegal immigrant-related bills before the General Assembly are creating a harsh environment for Hispanics who have lived in Missouri for generations. Nun MarÃ*n said such laws are "working against our rights to be here."

Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, chairman of the special committee on immigration, said the legislation explicitly targets illegal immigrants and not legal Hispanic residents. "It’s spelled out in black-and-white," he said. "Other than just dropping the legislation, I don’t know what we can do."

Nolte said he was visited by one representative of the delegation and is open to suggestions from any member of the Hispanic community. "Has there been a time when anyone has asked for time or come to my office and I have not accommodated them?" he said by phone today.

Nonetheless, Hispanics at the Capitol yesterday said the debate about immigration legislation has transcended the "legal" and "illegal" distinction, fostering negative attitudes among lawmakers and Missourians about all Hispanics.

"It’s a backlash to all Hispanics," said John Galatorie, a native of Bolivia and immigrant welfare advocate in St. Louis, as he described unfair treatment to House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence.

LeVota said he was "absolutely infuriated" by the pending bills and a proposed constitutional amendment to make English the official language of official proceedings in the state. "It just devalues people whose first language is not English."

Attorney General Jay Nixon, who also met with Hispanic leaders yesterday, said that speaking with as many affected people as possible was important to understanding their struggles. "I’m just a white guy from a small town whose dad was a police judge," he said. "I can’t connect."

Gov. Matt Blunt also met with the group in a town hall-style meeting, where Hispanic and non-Hispanic members questioned Blunt about promoting immigration-related legislation.

"Missouri welcomes legal immigrants with an open heart," he said in opening remarks. "The public concern is about illegal immigrants and about the rule of law."

Carlos Setien, a steel producer from Kansas City, won applause from the group when he told Blunt: "Our concern of Hispanics here is that we are persecuting people on a daily basis, and that is un-American."

Blunt replied that states must pick up the slack for the federal government’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration legislation. "I do not believe illegal immigration is a total loss and total drain on our economy," he added. "I also don’t believe it’s a big net plus for the American economy. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle."
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Apr ... ews004.asp

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Reach Abraham Mahshie at (573) 815-1733 or amahshie@tribmail.com.

"It’s a backlash to all Hispanics," said John Galatorie, a native of Bolivia and immigrant welfare advocate in St. Louis, as he described unfair treatment to House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence.

I'm really sick and tired of this inclusive language these pro-illegal invaders use to defend their beloved illegal invaders.

I certainly hope the majority of legal hispanics across this country do not feel this way! These people continue to include "legal" hispanics in their arguments which is dishonest and completely outrageous!

LeVota said he was "absolutely infuriated" by the pending bills and a proposed constitutional amendment to make English the official language of official proceedings in the state. "It just devalues people whose first language is not English."

Oh, well. I guess he'll just have to be infuriated then that MO is outrageous enough to believe that government business should be done in English. That's life. Ya win some and ya lose some Mr. LeVota.

I wonder if all of the folks living South of the border who do not speak Spanish as a first language are "infuriated" that Spanish is the official language there. I wonder if they, too, feel "devalued?"

"It’s a backlash to all Hispanics," said John Galatorie, a native of Bolivia and immigrant welfare advocate in St. Louis, as he described unfair treatment to House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence.

LeVota said he was "absolutely infuriated" by the pending bills and a proposed constitutional amendment to make English the official language of official proceedings in the state. "It just devalues people whose first language is not English."

The backlash is caused by ILLEGAL ALIENS being in this country ILLEGALLY and stealing from Americans. We did not invite them, they have nothing to contribute to the US, they DEVALUE our laws, tell me again why they're still here?

Talk about a guy just screaming to be cannon fodder...I had to smile and laugh when I read this part...! What a dope!

"LeVota said he was "absolutely infuriated" by the pending bills and a proposed constitutional amendment to make English the official language of official proceedings in the state. "It just devalues people whose first language is not English."