Immigration Protest Erupts at Houston City Hall

Andrea Nguyen

March 24, 2009


Protestors converged on the steps of Houston City Hall Tuesday and clashed over the immigration issue. On one side, advocates of illegal immigrants. On the other, members of US Border Watch. The demonstration centered around two cases involving the deaths of Houston police officers. More than two years ago the group, US Border Watch, protested when an illegal immigrant shot and killed HPD officer Rodney Johnson.


On Tuesday, they protested again, they say because another illegal immigrant seriously injured HPD narcotics officer Richard Salter earlier this month. The suspect who shot officer Salter, Wilfido Joel Alfaro, was shot and killed by officers. Records show he had been arrested at least five times for possession or delivery of drugs. Three of those arrests were made after a judge granted him "voluntary deportation". The US Border Watch group is hoping to bring about change in local immigration policies.


"ICE does not patrol the streets of Houston, HPD does,â€