Thread: LULAC members dispute DeLay's immigration stance

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mp ... an/3317111

Aug. 19, 2005, 12:43AM

LULAC members dispute DeLay's immigration stance
They say the House majority leader's words are 'extreme' and run counter to laws
By ERIC HANSON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

ROSENBERG - At a town-hall meeting hosted by the Houston-area LULAC, several speakers disagreed sharply with comments made recently by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who proposed a tougher stance on U.S. immigration practices.

"Mexicans, Central Americans and South Americans are not bombing anything strategic in America. They are here to work," said League of United Latin American Citizens member Joel Salazar.

Salazar and others at the meeting, held at the Rosenberg Civic and Convention Center, described DeLay's comments as "extreme" and said immigrants make a positive contribution to the U.S. economy.

"The economy is fueled by their presence and performance," Salazar said.

In an Aug. 4 speech to Fort Bend County Republicans, DeLay said he does not support educating illegal immigrants or having their U.S.-born children automatically become citizens.

DeLay encouraged local police to round up illegal immigrants and said federal officials could find places to house them, even if it meant putting them in tents.

Jose Jiminez, LULAC's deputy director, said the organization disagrees with DeLay on three main points.

He said LULAC does not think illegal immigrants should be rounded up and housed in tent cities.

"Here in Harris County we don't even put our criminals who go through our justice system in tents," he said.

Joe Vail, a University of Houston law professor, said gathering up those suspected of illegal immigration poses legal problems, such as racial profiling.

"In our country you can't stop somebody and detain them unless you've got a reasonable suspicion they are doing something wrong," Vail said.

Vail said DeLay's comments about not extending citizenship to American-born children of illegal immigrants runs counter to the 14th Amendment.

LULAC supports the public education of the children of illegal immigrants, and Vail said the U.S. Supreme Court agreed.

One of the speakers was Mary Almendarez, president of LULAC Council 402, who called DeLay's remarks "racist" and "unacceptable."

"What we have here is a congressman gone wild," she said.

DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said DeLay believes immigration to be a complex and important issue that must be addressed by Congress.

"Congressman DeLay has made his position on illegal immigration clear. We must secure our borders, enforce current federal law and not reward illegal behavior," she said.

I saw the link to the VIVA BUSH campaign button with the MEXICAN flag
--- http://republicanstuff.com/laurabuttonset.html ---
over the American flag.
Is that a welcome mat or what!!
Good job pointing it out.

Let the Republicans know how you feel about this.
email to:
sales@republicanstuff.com