Ole, mejicanos (this is the title from the Joplin Independent)

Duane Heitzman from Oklahoma, the moderator of the forum Waterbug, wrote that on May 1, a local Mexican restaurant near him (not Lupe's) closed their place of business. While he says "that is their decision," his decision is "they they will never again see us in their place of business." He also called attention to his "friends of Mexican descent whose families immigrated to the U.S. legally and are proud to be American citizens." He blames both Democrats and Republicans for the situation occuring in the U.S. over immigration issues.

Local Cargill Meat Solution plants closed Monday allegedly to "allow employees to express their concerns about immigration reform." Some local wiseguy suggested that, perhaps, immigration officals should put Cargill on top of their list of places to be raided, but company officials issued a retort that Cargill is very diligent in its efforts to verify that the people hired have the legal right to work in the U.S., and that it is wrong to assume that because people have strong opinions about immigration reform, they must be illegal workers.

William Gheen, a spokesperson for Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) of Raleigh, North Carolina is concerned over the riot that broke out in Vista, CA on the evening of May 1. Presumably, 800-1200 people swarmed the streets with some of them throwing rocks and bottles at sheriff's deputies. He is calling for enforcement of our existing immigration laws instead of "capitulating to angry mobs of illegal aliens in our streets."

Sher Zieve of New Media Alliance, Inc. of Shelton, CT has gone one step further in suggesting that anti-protestors celebrate a "National Day Without Citizens." He postulates that elected representatives would take notice if the economy were affected by everyone staying home, there being "more of us than there are 'them'." He also calls legal immigration a "privilege" and not a "right."The group has set up May 5 and June 30 for their protests.

Senator Talent says he opposes the state amnesty proposal for illegal immigrants. He says:

The Senate is debating immigration reform. Many Missourians have contacted me to express their views on this issue and I wanted to share mine with you. This is a nation of immigrants, but it’s also a nation of laws. I oppose the amnesty measure being considered in the Senate. Congress should not give the benefits of citizenship to those who have entered the country unlawfully; and it’s especially unfair to put them at the front of the line ahead of those who have waited patiently for years to enter the country lawfully.

I share the concerns of many Missourians that the United States requires a border control system that protects us from terrorist attacks, illegal immigration, illegal drugs and other contraband. A lot of people view border security as an immigration issue. It’s not. It’s a national security issue. That is why I introduced the Border Security and Modernization Act, which authorizes $5 billion over five years for security fencing and surveillance along the border, increases penalties for human smuggling, and increases the number of jail beds available to detain those who cross illegally. I will continue to support strong and effective measures to secure the border.

For more information on the Border Security and Modernization Act, click here.

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