Thread: Congressman's talk focuses on immigration

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Congressman's talk focuses on immigration

BY DAVID POLLARD | STAFF WRITER
dpollard@pioneerlocal.com

A Maywood town hall meeting with Congressman Danny Davis, D-7th, touched on public safety and other issues but stayed primarily in the realm of immigration.

There were only a few empty seats in Maywood's village council chambers Thursday night. A representative from Dept. of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had little time to talk about the duties of his office because most of those in attendance wanted Davis to take a message back to Washington D.C.: illegal immigration is illegal and should be enforced.

Maywood resident Edward Brownlee asked Davis why the country is letting illegal immigrants have jobs while people released from jail can't find work because of their criminal records. He said in both instances a crime has been committed, but that those released from jail are predominantly black males who are U.S. citizens.

"If you're dealing with immigration reform then deal with penal reform," he said. "You're telling me to get at the back of the line? It's time for black men in America to stand up."

Davis said he could not argue much with Brownlee's statement, but doesn't believe that the immigrant is the enemy. He also stated the fastest growing minority in the U.S are those from Spanish speaking countries.

"Politically do you want to be an adversary or find a way to coexist?," he said.

He said he recently voted against Republican-sponsored House Resolution 4437, which passed in December, because it was too harsh. The resolution asks for increased effort in keeping illegal immigrants out of the country and for strict penalties on immigrants in the country illegally. The Senate passed a separate resolution and the two have not been signed into law by the president.

He said the resolution is too harsh against people who are just trying to better themselves. "I voted against the bill because it would have made criminals of millions of people," he said.

On the immigration issue he identifies more with a portion of the sonnet "New Colossus" on the Statue of Liberty which reads: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

James McCurtis, 67, expressed his displeasure with Davis' decision at the meeting saying he should have supported the legislation.

"It's time to get down to business," he said. "There are people trickling and trickling into the country."

One constituent proposed that the country annex Mexico into the United States, solving the immigration problem.

Lucille Redmond, who's lived in Maywood 40 years, said she is not anti-Hispanic, but believes African-Americans are being overlooked.

"We are saying give us what we have coming," she said. "When we were slaves we didn't have a choice. If you can keep criminal (legal residents United States) in jail, why can't you keep those criminals (illegal immigrants) out?"

Along with immigration, residents brought up concerns about Bird Flu, economic development and education. Davis pointed out that buying within one's own community helps it and not doing so hurts it, stressing that the same goes for black-owned businesses as well.

"Charity begins at home and spreads abroad," he said. "You can't get blood out of a turnip no matter how you slice it or puree it."

Davis added he would consider running for Cook County Board president if John Stroger, the current president, gives up his post or does not run again.

Maywood Mayor Henderson Yarbrough was impressed with the turnout and plans to have a local town hall meeting with the village trustees and staff soon.

"Politically do you want to be an adversary or find a way to coexist?," he said.

I WANNA BE ADVERSARIAL!!!

This traitors position was expressed in so many useless platitudes I wonder why the crowd stayed?? Has he no thoughts of his own other than helping invaders into this country to 'better their lives'?? Does he not know for every foreigners life that gets better an Americans life is jeoparidized?? It's entirely too easy to figure out that if a foreigner is occupying a job, a house etc. that there is an American that cannot possibly be occupying the same location.???

Do these folks not understand that this is a settled country? That our jobs are being outsourced and we're being overrun with work visas for citizens of every country in the world??

Sheesh

How dare they ask US for sympathy? How DARE they??

MJ

A Maywood town hall meeting with Congressman Danny Davis, D-7th, touched on public safety and other issues but stayed primarily in the realm of immigration.

Sounds like Davis had all wrong answers too. Goodbye Mr. Davis.

I thought this post would get us going!!

"

I voted against the bill because it would have made criminals of millions of people," he said.

The illegal aliens are already criminals!

I'm glad the people showed up and stood up for Americans.

Pay attention, politicians. Look at what the voters are doing!!!!

Co-exist with these criminals? I don't think so!

"doesn't believe that the immigrant is the enemy. "
- I think he meant - they are criminal and have all the potential of an enemy / not all the enemies are criminals

"the fastest growing minority in the U.S are those from Spanish speaking countries. "
- So , logically we need to speak Spanish , cancel high school exams and worship them , becasue they are becoming the MAJORITY


" the resolution is too harsh against people who are just trying to better themselves. "
- what about Americans who are trying to better themselves - why cannot we start from them and finish with illegal immigrants / and in some African countries the situation is even worse that in Mexico , so we should start benefiting those countries and welcoming them first

"I voted against the bill because it would have made criminals of millions of people," he said.
- this statement does not need comments

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
- Mr Davis certainly read a lot of Lenin's , Marx's etc communist books
This song started in Russia in 1917 and the remnants of it are still destoying the country after about the century - nice example to follow !

"Charity begins at home and spreads abroad,"
-It is a good idea to start cleaning our own house before going with charity work all over the world