Thread: Immigration Activists Plot for Fall Elections

CHICAGO - The organizers of massive coast-to-coast immigrant marches tried to keep their growing national movement headed in the same direction Sunday by devising a strategy for the fall elections.

About 400 participants from 25 states gathered for a two-day national convention in Hillside, Ill., to debate how best to achieve legalization for all of the nation's 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and a moratorium on raids and deportations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Immigrant leaders created their first formal national structure, taking the place of a loose catch-all of labor unions, immigrant advocacy groups, ministers and students whose informality was once viewed as a strength.

The convention appointed about 60 volunteers to form a national steering committee called the National Alliance for Immigrant Rights. The group will help coordinate a national series of events on Sept. 30 that could include pickets and prayer vigils.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., told participants that they must focus on electoral strategies after mobilizing hundreds of thousands. Gutierrez said he has given up hope that Congress will pass immigration reform before the November elections.

"It's nice to have marches. I go to all of them," Gutierrez said. "But there is something that has to happen after a march. You register to vote. Congress will only move when it is in fear of losing power."

But some lawmakers say the marches have actually mobilized the opponents of legalization as well.

On Saturday, about 20 members of the Chicago Minuteman Project, a group that opposes illegal immigration, protested the convention on a sidewalk outside the hotel. Rick Biesada, the group's director, said he was concerned about the convention's goals of more sophisticated organizing.

"I don't know what they plan to accomplish," Biesada said, staring across a parking lot at some conference attendees who had gathered outside and were staring back. "It won't be good."

Convention participants plan to keep marching. On Labor Day weekend, for example, Chicago-area activists plan a four-day trek from Chinatown to the Batavia district office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

But they brainstormed other responses, including boycotts against companies that support elected officials who are tough against illegal immigration.

Participants passionately debated whether to lay the groundwork for a national strike of immigrants.

Some activists worried that their announcement would be seen as a bluff. But Chicago activist Carlos Perez said the group must prepare "a strong counterattack" if the U.S. government greatly expands raids and deportations against illegal immigrants.

The group also split on whether to endorse a resolution condemning the U.S. government for invading Iraq, supporting Israel's military strikes against Lebanon and responding slowly after Hurricane Katrina.

"These issues are valid, but our communities did not send us here to take positions on what's happening all over the world," said Nativo Lopez, national director of Hermandad Mexicana, representing the consensus.

The convention organizers did take heat from a few participants upset that Latino immigrants had dominated the movement. The entire convention was in Spanish with translation provided for other participants on headphones.

Berna Ellorin, of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, fumed that Asians and other immigrants appeared to be merely token participants used for photo opportunities.

"It's not enough to say we are all-inclusive and then come up with an all-Latino leadership. We have to practice what we preach," she said.

Jorge Mujica, member of the Chicago-based March 10 Committee, said Korean, Irish and other activists are already among the leaders and expressed hope in a taskforce created Sunday for outreach to non-Latino immigrants and others. He said activists must create a permanent national network with broad support and real staying power.

"If not," he said, "this movement that started with marching will not march forward."

http://www.cbs47.tv/news/national/story ... 1AF6C23596

"It's nice to have marches. I go to all of them," Gutierrez said. "But there is something that has to happen after a march. You register to vote. Congress will only move when it is in fear of losing power."

This is a Congressman,or a reconquista supporter?

added to homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1433

Some activists worried that their announcement would be seen as a bluff. But Chicago activist Carlos Perez said the group must prepare "a strong counterattack" if the U.S. government greatly expands raids and deportations against illegal immigrants.

This sounds like more military talk to me. We are at war with these people, a war of words. How can they get away with saying this? All the while, someone on a federal payroll is backing them. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

This is a Congressman,or a reconquista supporter?

Unfortunatly it's one of our immigrant congressmen who hasn't decided what side of the fence he's supporting.

Some activists worried that their announcement would be seen as a bluff. But Chicago activist Carlos Perez said the group must prepare "a strong counterattack" if the U.S. government greatly expands raids and deportations against illegal immigrants.

So if you read between the lines on this statement, it certainly sounds like a threat to me.

More evidence that this is happening-


Published: Monday, August 14, 2006
Bylined to: Paul A. Long

Venezuelan couple face US deportation after admitting voter registration fraud

The Cincinnati Post (Paul A. Long): A Venezuelan couple will be deported from the United States after admitting they lied about their citizenship when they registered to vote.

Abraham E. Gomez, 46, and his wife, Mayen C. Gomez, 41, pleaded guilty Friday in US District Court in Covington to falsely claiming they were US citizens ...the Union couple registered to vote in 2004 in Boone County, where they lived.

* Their crime was discovered after an anonymous tip to Immigration & Customs Enforcement, said their attorney, John Arnett.

Assistant US Attorney Bob McBride said the couple were applying for their drivers licenses when they signed up to vote. By signing the form, they were claiming to be US citizens, when they are in reality citizens of Venezuela.

The couple entered the United States on a visa several years ago, but stayed on after it expired, McBride said.

Both college graduates, they were living and working in Boone County when arrested, Arnett said. The couple have two children, who will return with their parents to the capital city of Caracas, Arnett said.

In a plea agreement, the couple agreed to plead guilty in return for a likely sentence of up to six months in prison. But McBride said he would not object to probation for the couple, who have agreed not to fight deportation proceedings.

* Indeed, said Arnett, the couple will voluntarily leave the county as soon as the legal proceedings are over. They are eager to return so their children -- who had been attending Boone County schools -- can enroll in a school in Venezuela.

In addition to the felony conviction and deportation, the charge brings a steep price for the couple -- Arnett said it's unlikely they will be allowed to ever again enter the United States, even for a visit.

However, the couple's children, who were born in Venezuela, and are also citizens of that nation, will not be subjected to that restriction, Arnett said.

Kate thanks for that post and Welcome! Great information.

Hope you don't mind but I posted this to it's own thread.

Welcome Kate!

Welcome Kate!

Thanks for the article. We need to expose all of the criminal activity going on with illegals.