HR 4437 dividing communities

Illegal immigration issue reaches High Desert

By MIGUEL GONZALEZ Staff Writer

VICTOR VALLEY — With the issue of illegal immigration dominating national headlines, local people are speaking their mind on the subject.
Protests across the nation have focused on House Resolution 4437, which would make illegal immigration a felony.
With more than 40 years as a High Desert resident, Victorville Councilman Terry Caldwell believes the issue hasn’t reached controversial status here.
“We always had a rich mixture of ethnicity, and I don’t see our community with racial tensions,” he said.
High Desert Minuteman member Luca Zanna said the Victor Valley is starting to feel the effects of illegal immigration.
“I think there is overcrowding in the school systems and in the local hospitals,” he said. “I believe there is a big change (in the Victor Valley) and its creating an underworld.”
Felix Diaz, a former Victorville councilman, said bills such as HR 4437 divide communities and create racism.
“I think this is a proposal that mostly targets Latinos, and nobody is going to target Caucasians because of the color of their skin,” Diaz said. “If we are the America that we say we are, then we should act like it and embrace these immigrants.”
The issue has gone beyond politics, according to the Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman for the San Bernardino Diocese of the Catholic Church.
“Bishop (Gerald) Bar nes strongly believes that the church’s voice in the immigration issue is more critically needed than ever before,” he said.
Lincoln said that more than 50 percent of the diocese’s congregation is Hispanic and Barnes’ belief is that the church should stand for a more just approach toward immigrants.
Caldwell said he is not in favor of deporting the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living in this country.
“I don’t think it’s humane or fair. I think some people have established their roots and are productive members of our community,” he added.
David Murphy, a member of the anti-illegal immigration group SaveOurState.org, said he thought HR 4437 was a bit extreme in making the action a felony.
“That should be limited to people killing people or committing a major crime,” Murphy said.
Caldwell said although he agreed with the need to secure the nation’s borders, there should be a mechanism to legalize those who are undocumented and are model citizens.
“If you are a bad person, you ought to be removed, but that’s not the majority. Most people are coming here looking to do a job other people don’t want,” Caldwell said.
Zanna said that if illegal immigrants are given a way to legalize their status, it would not be fair to the rest of those who waited their turn to come to America.
“I think Mexico has found a way to get the southwest back,” he said “Our president does not act in the best interest of the American people, and the system is starting to be damaged ” said Zanna, who recently became a citizen.
Lincoln siad that without the presence of migrant workers, the economy of the state would collapse.
“It would be economic suicide,” he said. “I think it’s crucial that we speak with compassion and dignity because we need to tone down the misinformation.”

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