Thread: Immigration protest stirs debate before election

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Immigration protest stirs debate before election
11/5/2006 1:40:48 PM
By: Bob Robuck


The immigration debate took center stage at the State Capitol on Saturday for a protest that included those both for and against closing the United States border.

Protestors said the rally was especially important because it took place days before the midterm election. They said the rally was one of their last chances to make their views heard by the candidates who will soon decide border policy.

Speakers included representatives from the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas, U.S. Border Watch and Texans for Immigration Reform. Curtis Collier is the president and co-founder of U.S. Border Watch, a group that wants to increase border security and reinforce the idea that legal immigration is the only acceptable way.

"We are for more legal immigration in this country. In fact, we would like to double legal immigration in this country, but we must control the illegal immigration factor in this country to be able to do that," Collier said.

Others feel the push to close the border is racist. They came to speak up for the immigrants who they say come to the United States to earn an honest living.

"There are so many reasons why people are treated inferior, and unfortunately they're mostly people with brown skin or just different features from Anglo people," opponent Yollel Higuera said.

"It's our responsibility to stand up for their rights and to be a voice for them when they're out there working two or three jobs just to support this economy," opponent Holly Jackson said.

Those for tighter border security say they worry porous borders allow for possible terrorists to come into the United States.

"We're not talking to one particular person. We're talking to any 'illegal' immigrant. We don't know where they're at. If they're illegal, we need to know where they're at," supporter Crystal Forester said.






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"We are for more legal immigration in this country. In fact, we would like to double legal immigration in this country, but we must control the illegal immigration factor in this country to be able to do that," Collier said.

DOUBLE LEGAL IMMIGRATION , is someone of their medication?

Don't we already take in around .5 million legal immigrants yearly? If anything, we need to reduce legal immigration! Our environment and job market can only take so much. When is enough, enough? I think a population of 300 million is plenty - legal immigration needs stabalized to replacement levels only.

Originally Posted by MW

"We are for more legal immigration in this country. In fact, we would like to double legal immigration in this country, but we must control the illegal immigration factor in this country to be able to do that," Collier said.

DOUBLE LEGAL IMMIGRATION , is someone of their medication?

Don't we already take in around .5 million legal immigrants yearly? If anything, we need to reduce legal immigration! Our environment and job market can only take so much. When is enough, enough? I think a population of 300 million is plenty - legal immigration needs stabalized to replacement levels only.

Actually, the US takes in over 1 million legal immigrants EVERY YEAR, which is more than the rest of the planet COMBINED!!

REDUCE IMMIGRATION!

WE NEED A BREAK....!

I'm with y'all. The guy is insane.

I'm personally for stopping it all together until we can figure exactly what is and what isn't. We don't have a clue who is here. Our visa system is BROKEN. We are undermining US Citizens by importing cheap labor and also bring in many people who HATE the US. Not to mention many people in both the government and big business appear to want to destroy the United States by almost unlimited immigration.