http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=222529

The Hispanic voice behind Illinois Minuteman Project
BY TARA MALONE
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Her name throws people.

The vision and voice behind the Illinois Minuteman Project and its suburban mobilization is, in fact, Hispanic.

Rosanna Pulido contends her heritage and her gender - she's the only woman to head a state Minuteman branch - make her an effective leader for those who say illegal immigration must be thwarted, borders sealed and laws enforced.

So, too, do her ethnic roots confound immigrant activists who wonder why the granddaughter of a Mexican farmer and a Christian who once ministered to Mexico's poor would put security over solidarity.

Pulido, a 50-year-old Chicago native, shrugs off such criticism. For her, the issue is defined by right and wrong, by patriotism and faith.

In the latest of our weekly conversation series, Pulido discussed patrolling the border, the suburban roots of the state's largest anti-illegal immigrant organization - seven of every 10 members are suburban - and immigrant marches, like the four-day procession from Chicago to Batavia this weekend. Excerpts of the discussion follow.

On her role as a Hispanic woman within the anti-illegal immigration movement: Just like I wanted a Middle Eastern person to stand up and denounce 9/11, to say we deny radical Islam, I thought this is my chance. That's why I felt I needed to take leadership. They call everyone a racist. Well, I'm Mexican. Well, they still call me a racist.

On being labeled a racist: It's more a reflection on them, than it is me. It's the lowest common denominator. They know if they had to argue and debate the laws, they wouldn't win. It's the only bullet they have to put in their gun. ...

What bothers me more is Minutemen who are white saying, "Oh, but they are going to call me a racist." They are frightened to be called a racist. It paralyzes them. But that's exactly why they call them racist. So I say: "If that's the bullet you have to dodge, so be it. They're telling you that to put you off guard, and it's working."

On her Mexican heritage: My dad for all practical purposes is Mexican, culturally. ... My grandfather never wanted to live in the U.S. He loved Mexico, but he married and spent time in Texas. He had my dad there. ... Eventually, my grandfather took the kids and went back to Mexico. They did farming. It was a very hard life. My dad got through it. He said, "If I'm going to change my life, it's up to me." And, he did. ... When he was 16 or 17, he left Mexico. He came up here to Wisconsin and Chicago as a young man to get work.

On growing up in a third-generation Mexican immigrant family: I grew up in a family where the lines of right and wrong were very clear. Even when I was a young girl, my dad spoke against Mexicans who came here, who wouldn't learn the language. He would say, "If they don't want to learn English, tell them to go back." If people would say, "Oh, I love Mexico," he'd say, "Go back. It never did anything for me."

On speaking Spanish at home: My mom and dad used Spanish to have their private conversations. None of us kids ever spoke Spanish. My dad didn't want us to learn. He was always like, "You're here. You're in America. You're going to learn English." That's it, end of story.

On working as a Christian missionary in a Mexican village from 1988 to 1989: I lived at a Bible school down there, in el Carmen. It was the best year of my life. I believe when you really learn to live without everything, that's really living. ... Isn't it weird that they come here for a better life and I went there to discover a better life?

On the role her Christian faith plays in shaping her views of immigration: I believe God wires us all differently. People talk about seeing the world with rose-colored glasses. Well, I have glasses that are colored with justice. Some Christians have glasses that are colored with mercy. We can all learn from each other.

While we have to care for these people's spiritual needs, we also have to point out what I would call sin. Loving your neighbor does not mean willful abandonment of laws that protect all American citizens.

On getting involved with the illegal immigration issue: It was prompted by visiting a conservative Web site called Free Republic. It's conservative grass-roots activism, that's what it's all about. I started reading story after story about illegal immigration. I was appalled. ... I always say it was reading one article too many and saying something's got to be done about this.

On sharing concerns about illegal immigration before it became the issue du jour: The thing that was disturbing to me is America was totally asleep on the issue. You'd go up to people and talk to them about illegal immigration and they'd be like a deer in headlights. They didn't get it. They'd hear you rant and rave, but people weren't aware. So it was very lonely.

On her role as an activist: You have to be an agitator, an activist, an educator.

On the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps: It's kind of like a phenomena, how it just started waking people up. To me, it started the explosion around the country and people started waking up. And they are still waking up.

On civilians working to secure the border: It was my constitutional duty to go, absolutely. Just like they tell you to keep on the watch for terrorists, it's the same thing: Our borders are being invaded. It's the duty of every American citizen to protect this country.


On going to the southwest border for the inaugural Minuteman patrol: April 2005 was the historic month when everybody traveled to the border. They were signing people up from October all the way to April because they wanted to make sure people who were coming weren't crooks. They checked you out.

We were in Cochise County, Ariz. I was there four days. Because I have a police dispatching background, I stayed in the dispatching center. People on the border would call and say, "I spot three illegals, call Border Patrol." ...

At first, nobody wanted us there. They thought we were going to cause trouble. By the time I got there at the end of April, they loved us. They knew it was a help and not a hinder. Most people behaved themselves and acted courteous and professional.

On the goal of the Illinois Minuteman Project: Waking people up to the fact their country is being stolen from under them. ... One thing I'm thankful for with all these marches is their theme: today we march, tomorrow we vote. I just go up to Americans and say, "Do you think from now on that you can not vote? If so, you're part of the problem."

On the group's suburban mobilization: We have put down our suitcases and unpacked our bags in Elgin, which we consider the belly of the beast. We gave them information about laws and programs ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) implemented for local law enforcement. We're not asking for them to do anything but what the laws allow. We've gotten nothing but stonewalling.

On membership in the Illinois Minuteman Project: We've got about 700 members now. About 70 percent come for the suburbs. Our biggest concentration is Elgin and Winnebago County.

On the immigrant marches earlier this spring, and the four-day procession from Chicago to Batavia planned this weekend: For us, it's fabulous. With each march, with each Elvira (Arellano) situation, it's pushing people over the edge and it's getting them active. ... After March 10, I no longer have to convince people there's a problem with illegal immigration and have them look at me like a deer in headlights.The pictures no American will get out of their mind is the sea of Mexican flags. We saw everything for what it really was. After they realized they shouldn't have had all those Mexican flags, they started changing to American flags. But we know the truth.On black involvement in the anti-illegal immigration movement: People are talking about it. We're seeing African-Americans start to get up and say, "Can I get involved?" It's like where have you been? They represent a whole voting bloc of people who are suffering the most.

On comprehensive immigration reform: Comprehensive reform isn't needed. We wouldn't have a problem if the laws had been enforced.On the border security bill backed by the U.S. House of Representatives: Sure, we'll take it, but we don't need it. ... Our problem isn't with any plan, it's with politicians who have run amok, who have not enforced laws, who cater to people who aren't citizens.

On a temporary worker program: We do not need a guest worker program. We need to put American citizens to work.On holding accountable companies that employ undocumented workers: When CEOs get thrown in jail for hiring illegal aliens, then it will stop. They will not hire them. ... What bothers me is the feds are not at the employer's who hired Elvira (Arellano). You think she's the only illegal alien working there?On the influence of terrorism: We talk about Mexico because when we look at the marches, most of the faces have been Latino. Really, it's anybody. I'm worried about anyone from any country coming here illegally. We're in war; we have to worry. Terrorism is something that's not going away.On media coverage of the immigration debate: Our meeting in Arlington Heights last October was crazy, absolutely crazy. We got so much bad, undeserved media. These people made a human chain in front of the door and it's like we were the bad guys. We were perplexed. What we realize now is our opposition, they really know how to turn things around and we believe they have a lot of friends in media.You read another article and it gets you angry again. Moral outrage is a great motivator. When we get morally outraged, we get up and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

On where the ongoing immigration debate will lead: If I didn't think we could turn this thing around, I wouldn't be wasting my time. ... It's an exciting time because people are coming out of the woodwork. Some of these politicians are finally listening to the people.On the Illinois Minuteman Project's future plans: The Illinois Minuteman Civil Defense continues to be inspired by men and women all over the country who are thinking outside of the box when it comes to enforcing laws and trying to give relief to those they serve who are totally fed up with the federal government's inaction. Our hope continues to ride on these courageous men and women who are willing to stand up and be counted and are forsaking political correctness for the rule of law.Coming next week: A veteran educator who welcomed scores of immigrant students new to the suburbs and the language.