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Immigration critics rally near Bush ranch
"We're in a fight to save our country," says participant


08:39 PM CDT on Saturday, May 6, 2006
By ANGELA K. BROWN
Associated Press


CRAWFORD, Texas – About 500 people rallied in President Bush's adopted hometown Saturday, calling for tighter border security and protesting amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"Rumble is both a noise and a fight, and we're in a fight to save our country," said Frank Jorge of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform, which organized the "Rumble at the Ranch" event in a lot near the high school football field several miles from Bush's ranch. "Hey America, are you ready to rumble?"

He and others called for Bush's impeachment, saying the president has put politics and businesses' greed above the rights and safety of American citizens.

Bush spoke at Oklahoma State University's commencement in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday.

Several speakers at the Crawford rally said illegal immigrants are taking citizens' jobs and health care and that unsecured borders increase the terrorism risk.

"Amnesty and guest workers programs are ... the death of the American family and the death of the American dream," Raymond Herrera of the Minuteman Project, also part of the rally, told the cheering crowd gathered under a tent on a rainy day.

About 10 cars in the Minuteman Project caravan stopped in Crawford after leaving Los Angeles last week on the way to a similar rally in Washington.

Later Saturday, the Crawford Peace House hosted a news conference in support of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Several speakers said the counter rally was trying to pit Hispanics against each other, but they said the issue is not just about Hispanics.

They also said a House-passed bill that would make illegal immigration a felony could encourage discrimination and violence toward many migrants.

"Everybody came from other countries and all together make strong this country," said Antolin Aguirre, a youth leader at Cristo Rey, an Austin church.

Saturday's events were five days after more than 1 million people around the nation staged marches demanding amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Holding a sign with the message "No beating around the Bush – What part of illegal don't you understand?" Carolyn Goodwin of nearby Lorena said she attended the counter rally to show her disapproval of the president.

"He is absolutely not addressing this issue," she said. "It's like they (immigrants) are breaking into our house and then flaunting it. I feel like an alien in my own country. I think we're in real trouble."

Lupe Moreno of Santa Ana, Calif., president of Latino Americans for Immigration Reform, said the Latino community is most affected by this issue because illegal immigrants are moving into their neighborhoods, causing schools to be so overcrowded that American youngsters are on waiting lists for public schools.

"They've stolen our children's future," Moreno said.