Thread: MD IA huggers: Immigration backers rally near State House

Immigration backers rally near State House
Goal is to stem what some are calling an Annapolis backlash

By Bradley Olson | Sun reporter
10:08 PM EST, February 25, 2008

Chanting "Yes, we can!" in English, Spanish and French, a crowd of mostly Hispanic men and women gathered near Maryland's State House tonight in hopes of stemming what they say is a growing backlash in the legislature over illegal immigration.

Participants in the rally, held on the eve of another round of General Assembly hearings on immigration bills, lighted several hundred candles and cheered local legislators and advocates and national civil rights leaders. Most of the measures seek to curb or cut off benefits to those who cannot prove they are in the United States legally.

"I think it's pretty sad that a country that has been built by immigrants now looks at immigrants today as something bad for this country. I think it's a double standard," said Angelo Solera, 45, a Baltimore resident from Spain who was once an illegal immigrant but now is a U.S. citizen. "Most of us are in this country working and paying taxes and making a contribution to this country."

he Maryland Minuteman Civil Defense Corps asked the federal agency that polices immigration to send representatives to the rally to check whether the participants -- who were bused to the capital from all over the state -- could prove their legal status.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents would not at tend the rally, adding: "We don't work that way."

Some legislators decried the rally.

"This is the lawmakers for lawbreakers rally," said Del. Patrick L. McDonough, a Baltimore County and Harford County Republican. "Essentially, they are supporting legislation that aids and abets illegal aliens."

This year, McDonough proposes to make it a criminal offense for legislators to enact laws that help illegal immigrants. His is one of nearly 30 pieces of legislation dealing with immigration issues.

The measures scheduled to be discussed Tuesday in two Senate committees include one bill seeking to cut off all public benefits to undocumented immigrants except those that are required by federal law, such as public schooling or emergency medical treat ment; multiple bills dealing with Maryland's practice of giving driver's licenses without requiring proof of legal status; and a measure making it more difficult for criminal cases to be dismissed if courts cannot find interpreters.

Other legislation proposed this year would cut off state funding to municipalities that do not enforce immigration laws and ensure that undocumented immigrants cannot receive in-state tuition. Another bill would create a commission to study the costs and benefits of the illegal immigrant population on the state.

Many Democrats have coalesced around a bill to create a study commission, and the legislature appears poised to repeat a heated debate from last year, when an at tempt to allow illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition rates at Maryland's public colleges and universities narrowly failed.

This year, advocates from CASA of Maryland, the state's largest Latino and immigrant advocacy organization, have said that they have the votes to ensure approval of the tuition bill, and they pre dicted that it would survive a promised Republican filibuster.

Janet Murguia, executive director of National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil rights group, noted numerous instances of alleged hate crimes against Hispanics in her keynote speech at the rally.

"We have a legitimate right to raise our voices, to ask that hate be removed from this debate," she said. "Let's face it, we have seen hate speech enter this discourse. And hate speech has consequences. To the Latino community, those consequences are per sonal."

bradley.olson@baltsun.com

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... 6698.story

Is not Illegals still that ? Illegal ? They have no rights . ICE should have arrested them as they marched .
I am just mad as hell with what Dubya & our Government has allowed to take place in "Our" country .

"We have a legitimate right to raise our voices, to ask that hate be removed from this debate," she said. "Let's face it, we have seen hate speech enter this discourse. And hate speech has consequences. To the Latino community, those consequences are per sonal."

HATE? WHAT HATE? This is about ridding the country of illegal aliens who have NO RIGHT to be here.

This is not directed at the "Latino" community. To not understand the difference between illegal and legal immigrant is ignorant.

I watched them carrying their signs stating "we are Maryland". It made me sick! If they are illegal they are NOT MARYLANDERS!

I watched them carrying their signs stating "we are Maryland".

So you were there butterbean? If so, Good for you! Those minutemen in Maryland sure could have used some input from our Gov't! It's too bad that our rights are held in the same value.

Many miles from my neck of the woods. If it weren't for my youngest two, I might be traveling around to support these rallies. Parenthood come first.

Originally Posted by safari

I watched them carrying their signs stating "we are Maryland".

So you were there butterbean? If so, Good for you! Those minutemen in Maryland sure could have used some input from our Gov't! It's too bad that our rights are held in the same value.

Many miles from my neck of the woods. If it weren't for my youngest two, I might be traveling around to support these rallies. Parenthood come first.

I wasnt there, but I watched it on my local news channel. WHAT A SURPRISE seeing my local tv station showing any news about illegal immigration.

"HATE" because the citizens don't want to pay for illegals higher education....get a life Janet , she is out still running of at the mouth!!!


>>>(3) NEW "ACTION ALERTS" 2/26<<<<
PLEASE TAKE ACTION.....NOW!!!!!
Lou Dobbs considering run for President (see at link)
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-105435.html
STOP "Idaho Mexican Consulate" (What are these consulates up to?)
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-105401.html
Missouri Rep. Rod Jetton...Says Americans can take lessons from, illegal immigrants..
LETS BLAST HIM WITH OUR OPINION OF HIM!! Information at this link!!
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-105538.html