http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v/AR ... a64ec35112

Debate on immigration gets heated Thursday


Tuscaloosa Minutemen and Hispanics debate immigration
By Ellen Burke
Assistant Student Life Editor
September 15, 2006



The room fell silent except for the shouts of an elderly man who became enraged while others on stage debated illegal immigration.

"You don't have to ask!" he yelled. "I'll just leave."

After several outbursts of "ship them out" and other anti-illegal immigrant comments, the man left the debate, almost before getting kicked out, to the applause of other spectators.

The Sigma Lambda Beta debate with The Minute Men of Tuscaloosa to kick off National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month drew strong reactions from a crowd of students and elderly residents of Tuscaloosa. The debate was called "A CrossVIEW on Immigration" for the different points of view people have toward immigration.

As the immigration debate became heated, Guillermo Puente, president of the Hispanic-based multicultural fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta, had to remind the crowd several times to remain civil and speak in turn. Puente said if anyone became too overheated during the debate, that person would be removed by an officer on call for the meeting.

"Amens" and clapping were common throughout the tense meeting, as were shouts from individuals who couldn't contain themselves.

Many people in the audience voiced their concerns about illegal immigrants holding back education in the United States, not being able to hold them responsible for hit-and-runs, and taking jobs from Americans.

"Bring them in and ship them out," the elderly man who stormed out said in response to illegal immigrants and education in the U.S.

Many questions during the debate revolved around how people feel about illegal immigrants.

"We have laws, and people are breaking laws by coming into the country illegally, and are therefore criminals," said Patrick Samples, a graduate student in electrical engineering. "If you try to enter Mexico [illegally], they'd shoot you dead."

Puente, a senior majoring in accounting, came to the United States when he was 11 years old, but for him, the process of becoming a citizen took 17 years. Puente's mother applied for citizenship was she was pregnant with him in Mexico, but he didn't become a citizen until 17 years later. While Puente does not condone immigrants entering the country illegally, he said he understands the frustration they feel.

Jerry Frady, director of the Alabama chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, said he thinks the U.S. helps countries in need all the time, but immigrants should come into the country legally.

"Regardless of who you are, this is a nation of laws, not sympathy," he said. "We don't operate on emotions."

Frady said he understands many illegal immigrants come into the U.S. for educational purposes, but "the U.S. has limited resources, and the resources go to the U.S.A. first."

"The only issue here is whether or not someone is here illegally," Frady said.

Many participants said jobs and education are two areas they think illegal immigrants affect the most.

Nicholas D. Rose, president of College Democrats, said the United States needs not only to establish a program where people can come and work in the U.S., but also protect its borders.

"We need to integrate people into our system," he said. "This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, but a bipartisan one."

Other people in the crowd said they were upset about illegal immigrants getting good jobs in the U.S.

"Not one line in either constitution [Alabama or the United States] says a person who comes into our country illegally gets a job," Frady said.

David Zapata, a junior majoring in management information programs, said American citizens should not worry about illegal aliens taking their jobs because there are currently enough jobs for everyone.

Rose said the jobs that are disappearing are ones at or below minimum wage.

Puente said while he feels bad someone left the debate, the event had a good turnout.

"There's been rallies for both sides, but this debate was good because usually no one wants to sit down and talk," he said.