http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm ... 7515&rfi=6

Border watchers plan state rallies
Mary E. O’Leary and Carlene Olsen
08/22/2005


Opponents of illegal immigration say they plan to hold chapter meetings in several cities throughout the state this fall to rally support in favor of enforcing immigration laws.

Meanwhile, advocates for the undocumented continue to work on creating a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million residents now in limbo.

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The local debate resumes as the Bush White House plans a new effort to push immigration reform, balancing the interest of its business supporters, who see a need for more workers, against those emphasizing better border control.

Upping the ante, two Democratic governors, Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano of Arizona, in what is viewed as partly a cry for help and partly a political move, have declared a state of emergency on their borders with Mexico.

The chapter meetings will serve as an expansion of the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, a Danbury-based organization that aims to enforce immigration laws, protect the borders and fight amnesty, said Peter Gadiel of the CTCIC.

"It’s a way to get people involved in the entire issue," said Gadiel of Kent, who’s motivated by the loss of a son in the 9/11 New York attacks. "The problem (of illegal immigration) is not limited to one geographic location." Their efforts to date, however, have shown minimal success, with each rally they have sponsored since March, with the exception of the first in Danbury, attracting three times the number of opponents.

Mary Long, one of the founders of the group, said they have more than 100 members on their mailing list, the majority of them from the Greater Danbury area. They plan to come to New Haven in mid-September.

"We don’t know if many people will attend or not, but we will give them the opportunity if they want to," she said.

Long, of Manchester, said their purpose is to fight any state or federal legislation which would give rights to the undocumented.

"It seems the average citizen is more concerned with these things than are our elected officials," she said.

Immigrant advocates see the McCain-Kennedy bill â€â€