Thread: El Pasoans to join anti-immigration reform rally today

El Pasoans to join anti-immigration reform rally today
By Ramon Bracamontes \ El Paso Times
Posted: 02/22/2011 12:17:50 AM MST

Five busloads of El Pasoans will join thousands of Texans today in Austin in a rally aimed at getting Republican lawmakers to stop supporting immigration bills that rally organizers consider racist, one of the organizers said Monday.

The El Pasoans, who left Monday night, will take part in the "Texas Can Do Better" campaign, which aims to protect the rights of immigrant families. The rally is being organized by the Border Network for Human Rights, an immigration reform and human rights advocacy organization based in El Paso.

Sen. José RodrÃ*guez, D-El Paso, applauded the El Pasoans who are going to the state Capitol to speak out against legislation targeting Latinos.

"With Latinos now making up 38 percent of the state's population, it is critical that their voice be heard and it is even more critical that the Legislature start to listen," he said. "Now is not the time that we pass divisive laws that will likely tear families and communities apart. We must focus on the real crises facing our state, including addressing a $27 billion budget shortfall and having the highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation."

RodrÃ*guez said immigration policy should remain a federal responsibility.

"We don't need 50 sets of state immigration laws," he said.

Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, said the rally will bring attention to the bills being filed that are anti-family and clearly racist.

"Groups from all over Texas are going to Austin to present the voice of the immigrant communities in Texas and to get lawmakers to reject anti-immigration legislation," Garcia said. "These bills do not represent Texas values."

So far this legislative session, more than 60 anti-immigrant, anti-family bills have being filed by extremist Texas legislators, according to the human rights network. Among the bills being opposed by the human rights network are the criminalization of immigrant families and workers in Texas, mandating local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws, requiring school officials to report undocumented students, and denying birth certificates to children born in Texas to undocumented parents.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_17447259

there is nothing racist about this. It is a fact that 80% plus of all illegals belong to one ethnic group. Get over it and be Americans first and stop flexing demographic hegemony muscles!

Looks like our folks in Texas are going to need us today and tomorrow.

W

there is clearly little if no support for the illegals based on the replies at the source link..
most everyone thinks they should be removed.

Quote("With Latinos now making up 38 percent of the state's population, )quote

Are you legal if so then why worry. The second generation Mexican-American should as or more concerned over illegal immigration as any citizen for certainly it is and will affect your children and grandchildren.

Many legal residents I talk to understand this although some are reluctant to speak in there communities.

its funny , they fought us tooth and nail here in arizona to stop SB1070 ... and as we continue to STEAM ROLL THEM they don't bus people in to protest any more ..... HA HA !!!

better get those busses in reserve for when you need to start bussing the illegals out ...

THIS El Pasoan did not go and would never support such garbage.

Just curious who provided the 5 buses. Anyone know?

Originally Posted by jean

Just curious who provided the 5 buses. Anyone know?

el paso does not have alot of charter companies.
it could have been greyhound of the el paso-los angeles bus company

Two other Related:

TX: Thousands protesting proposed immigration bills
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-229011.html

TX In Austin, crowds rally against immigration proposals
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-229067.html