Thread: Illegal Aliens Canvass for Votes in Wash. State

Illegal Aliens Canvass for Votes in Wash. State

Published October 22, 2010
Associated Press

SEATTLE -- When Maria Gianni is knocking on voters' doors, she's not bashful about telling people she is in the country illegally. She knows it's a risk to advertise to strangers that she's here illegally -- but one worth taking in what she sees as a crucial election.

The 42-year-old is one of dozens of volunteers -- many of them illegal immigrants -- canvassing neighborhoods in the Seattle area trying to get naturalized citizens to cast a ballot for candidates like Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who is in a neck-to-neck race with Republican Dino Rossi.

Pramila Jayapal, head of OneAmerica Votes, says the campaign is about empowering immigrants who may not feel like they can contribute to a campaign because they can't vote.

"Immigrants really do matter," Jayapal said. "If we can't vote ourselves, we're gonna knock on doors, or get family members to vote."

So far the illegal immigrants going door-to-door aren't meeting opposition. Craig Keller, an organizer for Respect WA, a group pushing for stricter immigration law in the Washington, said he doesn't mind illegal immigrants volunteering for vote drives, he just wants to make sure mistakes on the voter rolls don't allow them to vote.

"Anybody can go out and wave a sign, but when it comes to who's making the choices, there's no question they need to be citizens," Keller said.

In close elections across the country, the immigrant and minority vote is considered key for candidates, especially Democrats.

Earlier this week in Nevada, a television ad urging Latinos not to vote sparked outcry from Democrats, who called it a dirty trick meant to keep Hispanics home and boost Republican candidates. Univision and Telemundo -- the nation's two largest Spanish-language networks -- canceled the ad, which the Republican group Latinos for Reform had planned to eventually run in Nevada, Florida, California, Texas and Colorado through the Nov. 2 election.

Seattle is home to a wide array of immigrant communities, from Latinos to east Africans and Asians.

Congress declined this year to consider overhauling the country's immigration law, much to the chagrin of immigrant advocates who had expected Democrats to do so by now.

Still, OneAmerica Votes launched one of the largest get-out-the-vote campaigns in the state on behalf of Democratic candidates. The organization is an offshoot of OneAmerica, one of the state's largest and the most influential immigrant-rights advocacy group.

Through home visits, phone banks and mailings the organization is aiming to reach about 40,000 registered voters in the Seattle area in an attempt to help Democrats gain ground in key races. Volunteers include other types of people who can't vote, such as legal permanent residents.

About 150 volunteers rolled out in nine cities across Washington this past week, knocking on 3,000 doors.

In Bellevue, a city of nearly 123,000 east of Seattle, Gianni knocked on 25 doors and spoke to 15 people, she said.

One man, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, said he knew what she was going through after she shared she was in the country illegally.

"There's always a risk," Gianni said in Spanish about her legal status. "But if there's a change, I would feel like I contributed, even in a small part, to a change we all need."

Gianni arrived in the United States on a visa 13 years ago looking for work and stayed. For a while her only son lived here, but has since moved back to Mexico.

"In order for there to be a change to our broken immigration system," she said, "I believe one has to fight."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10 ... ash-state/

"In order for there to be a change to our broken immigration system," she said, "I believe one has to fight

I.m sorry,but she is here illegally SO it is NOT HER immigration system and not for her to decide that America needs to change her policies.

She wants change, then as I have said many times before,send her back to her country and let her make changes there.

In this country ILLEGALLY now for 13 years.

SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE PEOPLE! She should have already been deported!

Related


Illegal aliens canvassing votes for dems.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-215949.html

Seattle undocumented make their own campaing.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1130172.html

No wonder IA's are all so arrogant and "In your face" with this crap. If you're lying and stealing and raping and robbing, and" NO ONE" stops you why would you ever stop. And sure don't look like they'll stop until deported.

Added to Homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article-5770--0-0.html

One of these jokers showed up on my doorstep last week.

I sent the obnoxious woman away. Later on, we had to call building management and they promptly removed her from the premises.

This individual is an enemy of the state .

What in the h e double l is going on? why is this in the news? Why isn't see arrested? Why are illegals even attempting to vote or influence votes? Where is ICE? Where is the local police?

Unbelievable how bold these people are anymore. Hey chica; dont worry about voting in this country, It is none of your business.

Our leaders have allowed this to happen. So much for living in the shadows.........