Thread: Latino church groups lead rally Protesters criticize Georgia

ajc.com > Metro > Atlanta
Latino church groups lead rally
Protesters criticize Georgia law, pray for federal solution

By S.A. REID
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/17/07
Hundreds of Christian Latinos took to the streets of downtown Atlanta on Sunday in prayer and protest against a new Georgia law they say criminalizes undocumented immigrants.

Amid chants and song, they also demanded comprehensive federal immigration reform during their rally and march from the U.S. Court of Appeals to the state Capitol.

The protesters — many legal residents and most toting Bibles and young children — came from across Georgia to send what they hope will be a powerful, spirit-filled message that a change must come at the federal level and not through states and local governments, whose politicians they say are using the immigration issue for political gain.

By doing so, states and municipalities usurp the federal government's constitutional authority to shape the nation's immigration policy, critics said.

The Washington-based National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Church Leaders and the Association of Latino Pastors of Georgia, its local affiliate, led the prayer rally.

The evangelical advocacy organization represents more than 20,000 churches in 33 states, according to the Rev. Miguel Rivera, coalition president and founder.

Similar protests have been held across the country amid the national debate on comprehensive immigration reform.

"We're sending a message that we need true immigration reform that addresses the plight of 12 million and their children," said lawyer William Sanchez, a coalition lawyer. "What's happened in Georgia is just a reflection of the lack of action by the federal government."

The groups plan to submit paperwork during next few months challenging the constitutionality of restrictive, state-imposed laws that have surfaced in places such as Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia and Georgia.

Georgia's SB 529 raises the bar on identification requirements in employment, public benefits and pay to contractors. It also prohibits in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and requires jailers to check the legal status of those charged with DUI or a felony and notify federal authorities of suspected illegal immigrants.

Critics say Georgia's law and others like it make Latinos targets of racial profiling and other acts of discrimination.

"We're hoping to stop 529. The law criminalizes every undocumented immigrant," said Antonio Mansogo, association president affiliated with Doraville's Central Pentecostal Ministry. "What you can see is that these people are not criminals. Everybody is holding a Bible, reflecting that they have the same faith and values as the American people."

Living in the United States without proper documentation, Sanchez said, violates civil laws, but not criminal ones.

Rivera, coalition president and founder, described Georgia's new law frivolous and insulting to Latinos who, he said, pay taxes like everyone else.

Latino pastors and their members, he added, are fed up.

Added Rivera: "We cannot tolerate these types of laws."

Nearly half the estimated 700,000 Hispanics in Georgia are undocumented, experts say.


Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... _0917.html

What happened to the flowers?

By doing so, states and municipalities usurp the federal government's constitutional authority

Nobody can show where the Constitution gives the feds authority over immigration except for naturalization and citizenship. The States are soveriegn and always maintained control over immigration. Nobody can show how the feds ripped this from the States, except in the 1900's New York case which was decided under the Commerce Clause, not immigration. Just another example of how our Constitution is been torn to shreds.

Besides these people have NO idea of what the Constitution says. Everything that doesn't go their way is automatically labeled unconstitutional.....kinda like calling people racist. Anyway the laws are not new, they just are being enforced.

Latino pastors and their members, he added, are fed up.

Added Rivera: "We cannot tolerate these types of laws."

Well, Americans are fed up also. Honestly, the sheer arrogance of these people is just breathtaking. In what other country do people enter illegally and then dictate which laws they find tolerable and which they do not?

Where do they get off telling us that they are fed up with our laws? If they are fed up, then leave! ENOUGH ALREADY!

Really, it is their unmitigated arrogance that really works against them.

Our towns and states have the Authority and obligation to protect the citizens and their taxes, the Feds can not be expected to take on this enormous duty of protecting all 50 states they plainly do not have the resorces or the ability, point in fact....look where we are today because of the states ingnoring it.

If you don't like it pastor....MOVE

It is time to change being in this country to a felony, I'm sick of hearing it is only a civil offence. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO ENTER THIS COUNTRY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITHOUT PERMISSION, SIR!!! QUITE SIMPLE REALLY, quit trying to change that fact.

All that Amnesty talk has done so much damage to this country, people are still flooding the border to try and get in here for the next amnesty, it has to stop!!

---------------------- RED ALERT " NOW" ------------------------
HELP STOP "BUSH'S VETO" "STOP" MEXICO'S TRUCKS!
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 552#472552
ORANGE ALERTS:
STOP... REAL ID (NOW) ISSUED IN NC, CT @ OK ( they don't need to track citizens)
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... c&p=470075
Support.. HR1940 STOP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=81156
STOP..HR1999 15million$$$$ funding to LaRaza
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=80374
PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO ALICPAC "WE MUST STAY IN THE FIGHT"
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=C ... page&pid=9
Contact Info...Senators, Representatives & USEFUL INFORMATION
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 761#384761

Living in the United States without proper documentation, Sanchez said, violates civil laws, but not criminal ones

Mr. Sanchez, allow me to introduce you some "criminal law" you might find helpful. (Feel free to get a REAL lawyer to explain it to you)

TITLE 8 > CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER II > Part VIII > § 1324Prev | Next § 1324. Bringing in and harboring certain aliens
How Current is This? (a) Criminal penalties
(1)
(A) Any person who—
(i) knowing that a person is an alien, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever such person at a place other than a designated port of entry or place other than as designated by the Commissioner, regardless of whether such alien has received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States and regardless of any future official action which may be taken with respect to such alien;
(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;
(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;
(iv) encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law; or
(v)
(I) engages in any conspiracy to commit any of the preceding acts, or
(II) aids or abets the commission of any of the preceding acts,
shall be punished as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B) A person who violates subparagraph (A) shall, for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs—
(i) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i) or (v)(I) or in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), or (iv) in which the offense was done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;
(ii) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), (iv), or (v)(II), be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both;
(iii) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) during and in relation to which the person causes serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of title 1 to, or places in jeopardy the life of, any person, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and
(iv) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) resulting in the death of any person, be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined under title 18, or both.
(C) It is not a violation of clauses [1] (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A), or of clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) except where a person encourages or induces an alien to come to or enter the United States, for a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States, or the agents or officers of such denomination or organization, to encourage, invite, call, allow, or enable an alien who is present in the United States to perform the vocation of a minister or missionary for the denomination or organization in the United States as a volunteer who is not compensated as an employee, notwithstanding the provision of room, board, travel, medical assistance, and other basic living expenses, provided the minister or missionary has been a member of the denomination for at least one year.
(2) Any person who, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever, such alien, regardless of any official action which may later be taken with respect to such alien shall, for each alien in respect to whom a violation of this paragraph occurs—
(A) be fined in accordance with title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; or
(B) in the case of—
(i) an offense committed with the intent or with reason to believe that the alien unlawfully brought into the United States will commit an offense against the United States or any State punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year,
(ii) an offense done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, or
(iii) an offense in which the alien is not upon arrival immediately brought and presented to an appropriate immigration officer at a designated port of entry,
be fined under title 18 and shall be imprisoned, in the case of a first or second violation of subparagraph (B)(iii), not more than 10 years, in the case of a first or second violation of subparagraph (B)(i) or (B)(ii), not less than 3 nor more than 10 years, and for any other violation, not less than 5 nor more than 15 years.
(3)
(A) Any person who, during any 12-month period, knowingly hires for employment at least 10 individuals with actual knowledge that the individuals are aliens described in subparagraph (B) shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
(B) An alien described in this subparagraph is an alien who—
(i) is an unauthorized alien (as defined in section 1324a (h)(3) of this title), and
(ii) has been brought into the United States in violation of this subsection.
(4) In the case of a person who has brought aliens into the United States in violation of this subsection, the sentence otherwise provided for may be increased by up to 10 years if—
(A) the offense was part of an ongoing commercial organization or enterprise;
(B) aliens were transported in groups of 10 or more; and
(C)
(i) aliens were transported in a manner that endangered their lives; or
(ii) the aliens presented a life-threatening health risk to people in the United States.
(b) Seizure and forfeiture
(1) In general
Any conveyance, including any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft, that has been or is being used in the commission of a violation of subsection (a) of this section, the gross proceeds of such violation, and any property traceable to such conveyance or proceeds, shall be seized and subject to forfeiture.
(2) Applicable procedures
Seizures and forfeitures under this subsection shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 46 of title 18 relating to civil forfeitures, including section 981(d) of such title, except that such duties as are imposed upon the Secretary of the Treasury under the customs laws described in that section shall be performed by such officers, agents, and other persons as may be designated for that purpose by the Attorney General.
(3) Prima facie evidence in determinations of violations
In determining whether a violation of subsection (a) of this section has occurred, any of the following shall be prima facie evidence that an alien involved in the alleged violation had not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States or that such alien had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law:
(A) Records of any judicial or administrative proceeding in which that alien’s status was an issue and in which it was determined that the alien had not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States or that such alien had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law.
(B) Official records of the Service or of the Department of State showing that the alien had not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States or that such alien had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law.
(C) Testimony, by an immigration officer having personal knowledge of the facts concerning that alien’s status, that the alien had not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States or that such alien had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law.
(c) Authority to arrest
No officer or person shall have authority to make any arrests for a violation of any provision of this section except officers and employees of the Service designated by the Attorney General, either individually or as a member of a class, and all other officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws.
(d) Admissibility of videotaped witness testimony
Notwithstanding any provision of the Federal Rules of Evidence, the videotaped (or otherwise audiovisually preserved) deposition of a witness to a violation of subsection (a) of this section who has been deported or otherwise expelled from the United States, or is otherwise unable to testify, may be admitted into evidence in an action brought for that violation if the witness was available for cross examination and the deposition otherwise complies with the Federal Rules of Evidence.
(e) Outreach program
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, shall develop and implement an outreach program to educate the public in the United States and abroad about the penalties for bringing in and harboring aliens in violation of this section.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html ... -000-.html

You can say being here illegally isn't criminal, but helping them sure is! Wanna test my theory in court? Bring a "pastor" or two with ya...

This Document is from the "immigration Nationality Act of 1996"

Remember a couple of weeks ago a judge said it was not illegal for an illegal alien to be in the United States after they have crossed the border I wish I could remember who he was! does anyone else remember? I would send him a copy of the immigration and nationality act, don't your think this pretains to the judgement he made,
(Remains in violation of the Law)



(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;
(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;

Along with their bibles, two brought guns and were arrested yesterday.

Real peace loving

(reported WSBtv, 5am 9/17/07)

Originally Posted by GRITS

Along with their bibles, two brought guns and were arrested yesterday.

Real peace loving

(reported WSBtv, 5am 9/17/07)

I see grits are still groceries . I wanted to plant some grit trees but they probably won't grow here ,hehe.

I am a senior citizen and my husband is disabled, but we packed up to go to Georgia to 'save the truckers' several weeks ago . They were suppose to fly the US flags on their trucks and circle the state capitals . All the way to Gerogia I looked for little flags on passing trucks . I never even saw one !

I was told later that the trucks were told ,[ the few who showed up ] that if they came downtown they would be ticketed . I was so disgusted with my fellow Americans who think all they have to do is sit home and make calls ,while the illegal criminals and perverts get out and in the streets and offices of the representatives . Last commish meeting I went to it was all but empty except for the swindlers in office . The creeps were sitting up there making decisions about buying private property with our tax dollars . Nobody is watching them, so why not .

If these truckers had of had more PATRIOTS behind them ,they would have been heard .

We are giving away our childrens future . We are not protecting the interest of the men who fought and still fight and some gave all . I have changed my mind about this 'war', but I haven't changed my mind about ny troops who were sent into it . We are losing their nation .