Thread: SC:Hispanics to combat perceptions of illegal immigrants

Hispanics to combat perceptions of illegal immigrants
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIRO
mshapiro@islandpacket.com
843-706-8142
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Local Hispanic leaders met Monday night to push back against federal, state and county measures targeting illegal immigration.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement program designed to deport illegal immigrants booked in Beaufort County's jail took effect this month, fueling action within the Hispanic community, they said.

At the meeting at the Hilton Head Island office of La Isla magazine, the group laid out possible strategies to educate the Hispanic population about their rights and ways to combat perceptions about illegal immigrants.

Hispanics booked in the Beaufort County jail who are suspected of being illegal immigrants and face deportation often don't know their rights, said Luis Bell, executive director of the Latin American Council.

"None of them know they have a right to a trial," Bell said. "All of them waive their right for a public defender."

Bell said there also was confusion among families about how to contact their relatives being held in the county jail.

He suggested setting up a task force of lawyers to open the lines of communication and help educate people on their rights.

But the meeting also focused on the broader goal of creating more of a voice for the Hispanic community.

Eric Esquivel, La Isla's publisher, said the group needs to organize Hispanics, and "then we need to find unity with other members of the community who support the Latino community."

In addition to improving the image of Hispanics, Esquivel said the group should act as a watchdog against instances of racial profiling. By working with national civil rights advocacy groups, the group could discourage law enforcement agents from singling out Hispanics.

Mario Martinez, a Bluffton banker, pointed out that the larger community often associates negative stereotypes with Hispanics.

"We have to change that image," he said, urging the group to emphasize the positive and "what we give back to the community and how hard we work."

Augustin Martinez, a local translator, chimed in on what the message should be: "Beaufort County is spending tens of thousands of bucks to deport someone who's busted his butt to help build this community."

For the movement to be effective, the leaders stressed that they would have to remain positive. Esquivel said the area has not gotten involved in national boycotts because they are negative.

Mario Martinez said they now have to rise above the raw emotion in the community and stage a savvy campaign to turn things around for Hispanics.

"I understand that anger, but it's not going to get us anywhere."

Strategies to combat negative perceptions

• Educating Hispanics about their legal rights

• Building unity in the Hispanic community and solidarity among the general public

• Launching a media campaign on radio, the Internet and in newspapers
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/ ... 62236.html

Perceptions - my eyeballs are filled to the top with it.

Enforce law, and ICE get busy

In my opinion......I seriusly want to hear from any other "community" but the hispanics. Comes a time to shut-up because these guys have been front and center, in my face and down my throat and more doesn't sit well with me. Go take a walk and back-off and give people a chance to breathe for a change. Lets here from the Asians or something.

I don't need media hype, if there's change it comes with them and I'll see it in my town and until that has changed, they can put whatever they want on TV.......I believe what I see with my own eyes and experience in my own life. I'll proably die of a heart attack if one stuns me with a smile and some English spoken.

Action Alert at: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-125429.html

Please join in!

Why do Hispanics who are United States Citizens desire to partner themselves with criminal ILLEGALS? I would think they would want to distance themselves from the ILLEGALS! Could it be just the “Hispanics Leadership(?)â€

For a more positive image.....tell illegal aliens in your "community" to arrange their affairs and go home, stop making demands on our government, our comunty. For a better image....learn English, become part of the AMERICAN community if you are a legal resident...turn off the Univision, Telemundo and insist that your kids do the same. Learn the cultural mores of being a good neighbor in clean, orderly and safe neighborhoods.

Duplicate post:

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 039#733039

My perception of illegal immigrants--they are here illegally-I do understand why they came-- they are here illegally. Get out!!!!

My perception is they broke the law, steal jobs from Americans, lower the wage scale, suck up mountains of resources, hold American students back and get away with inflicting extreme costs and harm on our schools and hospitals.
They do benefit the churches who willingly take their illegally earned monies and wage political wars against America.

Local Hispanic leaders met Monday night to push back against federal, state and county measures targeting illegal immigration.

I guess I'm confused again.

I thought WE were the racists, even though we've been saying for years that illegal aliens come from lots of other countries and display many different skin tones.

Time for them to open mouth - insert foot.

[quote]Why do Hispanics who are United States Citizens desire to partner themselves with criminal ILLEGALS? I would think they would want to distance themselves from the ILLEGALS! Could it be just the “Hispanics Leadership(?)â€