Thread: English as Official language in DeQueen, AR.

We have introduced for discusson to our local county, English as the offical language. It will begin on Feb. 5th. We have a large Pilgram chicken plant here. There are at least 300 ill. on day shift and 400 on evening shift. No one will stand up to the company including the town officals.
Any help will be appricated.

Welcome JJ!

Check out our Action Panel for some tips.
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=C ... age&pid=19

I'm sure other members can also help with tips they have done locally.

JJ if you know that those working at the plant are illegal
CALL ICE and tell them as much info as you can so that they can raid the place

Welcome JJ

Call ICE is a great idea.

Welcome JJ.
We had an article re DeQueen before. They need more help than just making English their official language.
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ght=sevier

You can say that again jean.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 599#276599

Man pleads innocent to sexual assault of girl

Dixie

Originally Posted by Dixie

You can say that again jean.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 599#276599

Man pleads innocent to sexual assault of girl

Dixie

Usually these measures come up locally after a terrible local rape or murder. It is sad that it takes such graphic crimes to wake up communities.

We need to start a focus campaign on this. Are there any online news articles we can cite so far?

W

Not that I've seen W. because I looked earlier and I made a note to watch this one.

Last April, there was an illegal alien march of about 500 there.

Dixie

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/article ... news20.txt

Quorum Court to mull English as Sevier County’s official language
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 9:04 AM CST

By JIM WILLIAMSON
Texarkana Gazette

De QUEEN, Ark.—The Sevier County Quorum Court is considering a resolution to make English the official language in the county.

The justices of the peace who make up the Quorum Court listened Monday afternoon to a proposal by Brenda Tollett to improve communications between Hispanics and English speaking residents.

Members of the Quorum Court asked Sevier County Judge Dick Tallman to prepare a resolution for consideration during the March 5 meeting. The purpose of the resolution is to encourage the local Hispanic population to speak English.

Tollett asked for the ordinance, but Tallman said it would be doubtful it could be enforced. However, Tallman said he would prepare a resolution instead of an ordinance for the Quorum Court to consider for approval at the March 5 meeting.

“It’s not because of prejudices, but it’s to bring people together. The older people need to learn to read and write English,” said Tollett.

She said the majority of the new Hispanic business owners speak little or no English. Tollett said she surveyed 22 new business and churches. According to her tally, the majority of the new Hispanic business owners speak litle or no English.

It was also noted that one of the businesses had the Mexican flag painted at the top of the front window of the business and not an American flag.

Tollett suggested Hispanic businesses might want to also paint an American flag on the front window glass. She says if Hispanic business owners of De Queen don’t speak English, it’s difficult to know whether to shop in the stores.

“I want to promote more communication between all of us. You need to speak English if you want to become a citizen,” said Tollett.

Tallman attended a recent seminar along with law enforcement officials from Sevier County conducted by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from Texarkana. According to information gathered at the seminar, those officials said about 50 percent of the Hispanics in Sevier County are illegal.

Tallman attended a recent seminar along with law enforcement officials from Sevier County conducted by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from Texarkana. According to information gathered at the seminar, those officials said about 50 percent of the Hispanics in Sevier County are illegal.

Tallman suggested it would be difficult to enforce an ordinance requiring English as the official language when half of the Hispanic population is illegal.

“We don’t cater to Hispanics. If they want a marriage license or assess their taxes, they have to bring an interpreter,” said Tallman.

He said Pilgrim’s Pride, a chicken processing company in De Queen, which employs Hispanics, has difficulty verifying if they are legal residents.

Authorities say the quality of counterfeit documents has improved. Tallman said ICE officials will assist communities in documenting Hispanics as legal residents of the U.S. using a different computer information network than what is available to local law enforcement agencies.

Brenda Stewart, executive vice president of the De Queen/Sevier Chamber of Commerce, attended the meeting. She said Hispanic businesses are suspicious of a chamber of commerce.

“We have little or no contact with Hispanic businesses. In Mexico, the chamber is distrusted,” Stewart said.

Stewart said her father immigrated to the United States from Poland. He didn’t become a U.S. citizen until 1971, but he learned English so he could become a citizen.

Stewart said her mother immigrated from Italy and also learned English.

“My father never asked for a special language,” said Stewart who can speak Polish.

She said reports show less than 10 percent of the Hispanics “ever hope to become citizens.”

“They’re here as guest workers and it allows them to stay for two years. How do you know they’ve been here for two years or 20 years?” Tallman asked, suggesting that falsified documents are difficult to prove.

Tollett said her son works in a chemical plant in Houston, Texas and the company has required English as the language used at the plant for safety reasons.

Stewart, who is also an EMT, said emergency medical problems can be aggravated when a non-English speaking Hispanic is ill or injured.

“Unless a younger child is there who can speak English, there isn’t much I can do as an EMT to help treat mom or dad if they can’t speak English,” said Stewart.

http://www.dequeen.com/news/more.php?id=3042_0_1_0_C

Quorum Court considers English as official language
Friday, February 16, 2007 (1:05 pm PST)

DE QUEEN — The Sevier County Quorum Court heard a presentation on a proposal to make English the official language of Sevier County at their regular meeting Monday afternoon, and JPs also fielded a request for financial aid for the Sevier County Humane Society and a request to purchase Sevier County lapel pins from the De Queen-Sevier County Chamber of Commerce.

Brenda Tollett delivered a presentation asking the quorum court to make English the official language in Sevier County, citing the need for better communication between the Anglo and Hispanic communities.

“It’s not because of prejudices, but it’s to bring people together,” said Tollett. She added that adapting such a measure would be the first step toward letting the community know that local officials encourage English proficiency.

She told JPs that she has surveyed 22 new businesses and churches in the county that cater primarily to the Hispanic community with the majority of those displaying signs and advertisements in Spanish only.

She cited one business on Stilwell Avenue that displays a Mexican flag in the window and signs in Spanish only. She suggested Hispanic business owners might also display an American flag, and display English signs if they expect to attract Anglo customers.

Sevier County Judge Dick Tallman agreed the language barrier promotes communication problems within the county, citing anecdotes from a program put on for local law enforcement authorities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials recently and a recent newspaper article noting that the illegal alien battle has shifted to the courtroom.

Tallman cautioned JPs, however, that if the county approved the proposal, enforcement would be a problem.

“An edict or mandate might cause more problems that it solves,” Tallman said.

Justice of the Peace Roxie Stephens suggested that the quorum court consider a resolution rather than an ordinance on English as the official language.

Tallman said he would work on preparing such a resolution for the quorum court to consider at their next meeting.