Thread: Immigrant advocates blast Garrett

http://www.northjersey.com

Immigrant advocates blast Garrett
Friday, July 21, 2006

By ELIZABETH LLORENTE
STAFF WRITER


He has supported bills that would criminalize undocumented immigration and deny citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

He authored a measure to prohibit the use of identification issued by foreign governments for such things as opening bank accounts and renting apartments.

And recently, Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, was the only member of New Jersey's congressional delegation to vote against extending the Voting Rights Act, because he opposed a provision that called for printing ballots in languages other than English.

On Thursday, a group of about 20 immigration and civil rights advocates rallied outside Garrett's office in Paramus to press the congressman to ease his stance on the foreign-born, particularly those in the United States without documents.

"He has not been a friend of immigrants," said the Rev. Jack Martin of Elizabeth. "We had meetings and felt it was urgent to take some action against his voting and the bills he supports in Congress, and also to take action to draw attention to the issue of immigration."

The protesters carried signs that read, "No Human Being is Illegal," and waved to drivers along Route 4 east who honked and held up fists in support.

Garrett spokeswoman Audrey Jones balked at the depiction of the congressman as anti-immigrant, saying he recognizes and respects that "this is a country of immigrants."

"He is anything but hostile to immigrants," Jones said. "Our staff works pretty much on a daily basis to help immigrants through the naturalization process. He believes very strongly in immigration.

"His concern only lies in illegal immigration.

"This is a nation of immigrants, but he also says that this is a nation of laws. His first concern is securing our borders."

The organizers cast Garrett as a congressman out of touch with the demographics of his own district.

"Scott Garrett is an extremist," Chia Chia Wang, of the American Friends Service Committee in Newark, said hours after meeting with Garrett aides in the congressman's office.

"The staff is nice. They listened to what we said, but Garrett himself doesn't listen."

Immigrant families have moved into the 5th District in growing numbers, and many homeowners and small-business owners have come to depend on labor that is disproportionately offered by illegal immigrants.

"We're giving him figures to show the growth of immigrants in his own district," said Analilia Mejia, program and policy coordinator for the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network. "He doesn't know the immigration population in his own area."

Mejia noted that about 15 percent of Garrett's district is foreign-born, and that about half of those people are naturalized citizens and able to vote.

The advocates promised to register as many immigrants as possible to vote against Garrett in favor of a candidate more responsive to their demands. Garrett is seeking his third term in November as representative of a district that has traditionally voted Republican. The district covers almost 40 towns in northern Bergen County, four towns in Passaic County, most of Sussex County and all of Warren County.

The 2000 U.S. Census showed that 1.5 million immigrants lived in New Jersey. As of 2002, the report said, 373,000 immigrants in New Jersey were eligible to apply for citizenship, and another 134,000 were close to meeting the criteria.

E-mail: llorente@northjersey.com

"We're giving him figures to show the growth of immigrants in his own district," said Analilia Mejia, program and policy coordinator for the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network. "He doesn't know the immigration population in his own area."

So what!!! What does this have to do with illegal immigrants?

Mejia noted that about 15 percent of Garrett's district is foreign-born, and that about half of those people are naturalized citizens and able to vote.

Again, so what??? What does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

To me, it just shows he's not pandering to minority votes. Good for him

I'm sooooo PROUD!

Scott Garrett is my guy How cool is this!

Must call his office on Monday and congratulate him for a job well done!!

For the most part, this is not a district to play with. We still have a lot of strong, PRO AMERICAN folks here and they're not to be messed with.....once they wake up to the problem. We like our freedom, privacy and land.

We have been and are the DUMPING GROUND for the undesireable from NY & NJ cities which we have fought against for years with some wins and some losses. There are still fighters in these mountains.

Is it possible to any one to give me a link to congratulate MR. Garret ?

give me a sec, MINNIE and I'll get you his link.

Here it is:

http://garrett.house.gov/

Washington, DC
1318 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-225-4465
fax: 202-225-9048

Eastern District Office
210 Route 4 East, Ste 206
Paramus, NJ 07652
phone: 201-712-0330
fax: 201-712-0930

Western District Office
93 Main Street
Newton, NJ 07860
phone: 973-300-2000

Here's a link to contact him over the internet.

http://www.house.gov/formgarrett/contact.shtml

These "immigrant" groups are always trying to muddy the water. You notice that in their arguements, everyone is an immigrant, never an illegal immigrant. What they don't realize is that they're only fooling themselves and that U.S. Representatives, like Mr. Garrett, know that these illegal aliens can't vote, aren't constituents and therefor. have no right to representation.

fyi: Garrett and Tancredo are buddies.

He's one of the VERY FEW in NJ who has a backbone! And, he's outnumbered especially taking into consideration that we have Corzine, Lautenberg and MENENDEZ - the laraza/illegal lover & marcher.

Although I like him and we're neighbors, I still watch him like a hawk as he's not always voted correctly on this issue.

Good to know that someone still has a pulse in my home state.