Thread: OH: Local Latinos Gain Allies in Quest for Immigr. Reform

Local Latinos gain allies in their quest for immigration reform; rally in Cleveland spans cultures

By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer
January 14, 2010, 6:54PM

Lisa Dejong, The Plain Dealer Juan Miranda applauded speakers who said the American immigration system was broken and needed to be fixed. The pro-reform rally drew a diverse crowd that included representatives from the African-American, Asian and Jewish communities.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In their push to change the nation's immigration laws, local Hispanics welcomed new allies Thursday.

Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer Arzella Melnyk of Kirtland was one of three people who demonstrated against illegal immigration Thursday outside the Church of the Nazarene, where the rally calling for immigration reform was being held. Representatives from the Asian-American, African-American, Jewish, Sikh and Muslim communities swelled a rally called to push for comprehensive immigration reform.

Their presence at a small West Side church lent momentum to a crusade that rivets the Latino community, as many Hispanics are familiar with a daunting immigration system through personal experience or the experience of a relative.

President Barack Obama has promised to address immigration reform this year. With Congress wrapping up health care reform, some see an opportunity to be seized.

"We have to jump on this bandwagon because we have four or five months to make something happen," Veronica Isabel Dahlberg, an activist in the Mexican-American community, told a crowd of about 150 people at the Church of the Nazaren

The rally to kick off the local campaign for immigration reform drew dozens of young people from Lake and Ashtabula counties, including a teen girl who revealed a dilemma she said she shares with many others at Ashtabula's Lakeside High School.

Though a high-achieving student, she cannot apply to colleges because her parents brought her into the country illegally at age 5.

"We have the potential, we just need that Social Security number, that green card that they ask us for," she said, her voice breaking. "We can make it with your help."

Max Blachman, an aide to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, drew applause when he said he would support reforms that offered "earned citizenship" to illegal immigrants.

Richard Herman, co-chairman of the high-tech trade group TIE Ohio, said changes in the law need to coincide with changes in attitudes.

" 'Immigrant' has become a dirty word" in Greater Cleveland and at a bad time, Herman said.

Today's immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses, earn advanced degrees and obtain U.S. patents, he said. Cleveland, a city once teeming with immigrants, is now only 4 percent foreign-born.

"Guess what?" Herman said. "That's not good for the New Economy."

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/01 ... _in_t.html

" 'Immigrant' has become a dirty word" in Greater Cleveland and at a bad time, Herman said.

Dufus, there is a difference between a legal immigrant and an illegal alien! What bad time? I am sure unemployed Americans in all tiers of the workplace would move to Cleveland for a decent wage.
What angers me the most is the blatant anti-Americanism for the benefit of illegal foreigners. Why is their plight our problem?

Today's immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses, earn advanced degrees and obtain U.S. patents, he said. Cleveland, a city once teeming with immigrants, is now only 4 percent foreign-born.

BS...Then just why is their high school drop out rate so high?????

If they are starting busnesses you can bet they are being given taxpayer money that Americans are not qualitied for to start these businesses. You know the money they give all foreignors to start businesses in the U.S.

They are certainly right that the "American immigration system is broken and must be fixed." The anti-democracy activists are the ones who broke it. It should be fixed by sending home the illegal aliens.