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  1. #1

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    "Immigrants demand $100 million initiative in N.Y.&

    Immigrants demand $100 million initiative in N.Y.


    ALBANY-- After a fallout last year over Gov. Eliot Spitzer's failed plan to allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses, more than 1,000 immigrants rallied on the steps of the Capitol on Monday to demand a new initiative from Spitzer: a $100 million citizenship program to fund education and legal services to help immigrants assimilate more easily.

    The crowd was made up of a diverse mix of immigrants - from Russia, Mexico, Africa, Korea, Haiti and other countries - that now call the state home.

    The $100 million citizenship initiative would fund English-learning classes for children and adults, provide legal assistance to help eligible immigrants through the citizenship application process and protect immigrants from abusive employers and scams, according the coalition.

    The citizenship initiative would not only help immigrants achieve citizenship more easily, it would create a more respectful environment statewide for newcomers, said Chung-Wha Hung, executive director of the state's Immigration Coalition.

    Immigrants' public image was hurt last year during the fallout following Spitzer's initiative to provide illegal immigrants with drivers' licenses, Hung said. Spitzer proposed the plan last September, but it was widely panned by the public and lawmakers, and less than two months later, he scrapped the idea. The proposal, though, was initially hailed by immigration groups.

    "We need to turn from scapegoating to solutions," Hung said. "We're trying to set a new tone and turn the tide."

    Currently, 4 million New Yorkers - 20 percent of the state's population - is foreign born, with 1.1 million of those currently eligible for citizenship, according to the coalition. Another 400,000 New Yorkers will be up for citizenship in the coming years, according to the coalition.

    Manuel Rivera, the governor's top education aide who gave a speech at the rally, supported the education initiative.

    "The education of our children, adults, is the great equalizer," said Rivera, former superintendent of Rochester city schools.

    Rivera said that dropout rates among immigrant high-school students are too high, and there are not enough English classes for non-English speakers.

    There are more than 200,000 students in the state school system that are trying to learn English, according to the coalition. A Spitzer spokesman said the governor has proposed funding to help immigrants in New York.

    "In a difficult budget year where the governor closed a $4.6 billion budget gap, the state provides over $176 million in state and federal funding for immigrant support services and has targeted additional funding to immigrant children through education funding formulas," said Jeffrey Gordon, spokesman for the state budget division.

    Members of the Westchester Hispanic Coalition were among the demonstrators demanding better education for immigrants.

    Juana Gonzalga, an 18-year-old student and coalition-member from Rye, Westchester County, said she joined the rally because earning a quality education is important to her. "They should really focus on us, the youngsters, because we are the future," she said.

    Jacqueline Garcia, an 18-year-old resident of Rye and student at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, said, "We are going to be tomorrow's majority."

    On a national level, 270,000 immigrants were deported last year alone, up from 30,000 deported in 1990, Hung said. The high level of deportation makes immigrants feel unwelcome, she said.

    "Is it the economy? Say it's the immigrants' fault. Is it terrorism? Say it is the immigrants' fault," Hung said.

    Graciela Heymann, directors of the Westchester Hispanic Coalition said, "When immigrants are equated with terrorists, there is something wrong with our psyche."

    DOSBURN@Nycap.rr.com

    http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs. ... /802250361
    From the Border Movie:

    I will not sell my country out ~ I WILL NOT!
    I'd like to see that pride back in AMERICA!!!

  2. #2
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    "In a difficult budget year where the governor closed a $4.6 billion budget gap, the state provides over $176 million in state and federal funding for immigrant support services and has targeted additional funding to immigrant children through education funding formulas," said Jeffrey Gordon, spokesman for the state budget division.
    I thought (legal) immigrants had to be self-supporting to be admitted.

    And, of course, illegal immigrants shouldn't be here.

    So who needs $176 M of (citizen) tax-payers' money???

  3. #3
    Senior Member AirborneSapper7's Avatar
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  4. #4
    Senior Member Richard's Avatar
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    The benefits of citizenship are already a massive give away we do not need to fund helping people start continuing to receive other benefits.

    The Spitzer proposal was that illegal aliens be able to get drivers licenses something an immigrant that is a legal immigrant can do already.


    No law abiding legal immigrants
    were deported and the amount of illegal aliens we deported was about the same as Mexico which is a country one third the size of the United States.
    I support enforcement and see its lack as bad for the 3rd World as well. Remittances are now mostly spent on consumption not production assets. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  5. #5
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    WOW 250,000 illegal immigrant students (lets just assume the stats are off like usual) that need to learn english. Thats 43 extra schools at 1,000 students per school with six classes every day. Just think if they weren't here that $1.4 billion dollars needed to build those 43 schools and a couple of $25 million administraitive buildings, that money could have went to American students or stayed in the pockets of the New York Residents. Thats one good reason why immigrants need to come here the right way, then the immirant can learn english own their on like they are supposed to do before cetting into this country. That eliminates a huge expense for the tax payers. But NOOOOO, the pc government and chamber of commerce love the illegals.

    But yet they countinue to tell us all these illegal immigrants don't cost the tax payers nothing aye? Even if they do pay some taxes we know it isn't as much as the native born American or New York native pays. Either way, the tax payers get soaked and the businesses rack up ... again.
    Unless we get those criminals & make them pay for what they have done to our country and the lawlessness they have sponsored, we are just another Mexico ourselves!

  6. #6
    Senior Member miguelina's Avatar
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    Sorry, that would pre-empt federal laws already on the books.

    There are NO requirements for illegal aliens to getting citizenship. They are not, will not and should not be eligible for citizenship, as they have already broken immigration laws. among other laws.

    LEGAL immigrants have a 5 year wait for citizenship, be self-supporting and have a basic understanding of English. Anyone meeting these requirements can become a citizen.

    The only way to stop employers abuse of illegals is to punish the employers with huge fines and closing their businesses and to take away their supply of illegal labor.

    Illegals need to go home.
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
    "

  7. #7
    Senior Member MyAmerica's Avatar
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    a $100 million citizenship program to fund education and legal services to help immigrants assimilate more easily.

    The crowd was made up of a diverse mix of immigrants - from Russia, Mexico, Africa, Korea, Haiti and other countries - that now call the state home.

    The $100 million citizenship initiative would fund English-learning classes for children and adults, provide legal assistance to help eligible immigrants through the citizenship application process and protect immigrants from abusive employers and scams, according the coalition.

    The citizenship initiative would not only help immigrants achieve citizenship more easily, it would create a more respectful environment statewide for newcomers, said Chung-Wha Hung, executive director of the state's Immigration Coalition.
    DEMANDING $100 MILLION initiative to fund immigrants to become citizens.........unbelievable! The United States is not obligated to pay for immigrants to become citizens. There are millions of people in the world who would be grateful for the opportunity to immigrate to the U.S.

    "it would create a more respectful environment statewide for newcomers,"
    Demand $100 million in funding for a 'more respectful environment'--am sorry but to me respect is something earned not bought.


    The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
    * Hubert H. Humphrey
    "Distrust and caution are the parents of security."
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  8. #8
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    newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stimmi265592022feb26,0,6127082.story

    Newsday.com
    LI immigrant groups rally for rights in Albany
    BY MELISSA MANSFIELD.melissa.mansfield@newsday.com

    February 26, 2008

    ALBANY - A thousand immigrants from across the state, including dozens from Long Island, descended on the Capitol yesterday, demanding translators in hospitals, better work conditions and English as a second language classes.

    The Long Islanders made the trek as part of an annual Immigrants' Day of Action here, but specifically they are concerned about a bill in the Suffolk County Legislature that would require contractors to prove their workers are not illegal immigrants.

    Among the LI groups represented were the Catholic Charities/Diocese of Rockville Centre and the Long Island Immigrant Alliance in Amityville. A wide variety of immigrant groups - the Haitian Americans United for Progress, Korean Senior Society and Centro Hispano - were also among the more than 60 organizations.

    "They're coming here with a sense of urgency," Chung-Wha Hong, the New York Immigration Coalition executive director, said of the Long Island contingent. "The legislation is aimed at taking them down."

    The Suffolk bill would take licenses from contractors who hired undocumented workers. "If that bill passes, it's going to be bad for the economy," especially small-business owners that rely on the labor, said Matilda Parada, of Farmingdale, who came to lobby against the effort.

    "Anti-immigrant forces were greatly emboldened by what happened last year with the failure of immigration reform and defeat of licenses for immigrants," said Patrick Young, director of the Central American Refugee Center in Hempstead. "They began mobilizing around anti-immigration bills in Suffolk County and elsewhere."

    Polls last year showed 75 percent of New Yorkers opposed Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to provide drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants.

    Assemb. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan) told the crowd yesterday that at times in American history, slavery and discrimination also had been popular, but that it was important to continue to fight for immigration reform.

    On the Capitol's east steps, immigrants held signs in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Korean. Many of the posters stated, "Proud to be an immigrant."

    After the noontime rally, immigrants and advocates met 60 legislators to lobby for citizenship initiatives and equal access to government services and health care.

    Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

    http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state ... rint.story
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Ratbstard's Avatar
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    Hmmm, I didn't read anything about this in the NY Daily News or the NY Post today.
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