Thread: National group opposed to illegal immigration

http://www.enidnews.com/statenews/cnhin ... 21352.html

Published: September 18, 2006 12:13 pm

National group opposed to illegal immigration

By Derek Spellman
THE JOPLIN GLOBE (JOPLIN, Mo.)

JOPLIN, Mo. — Organizers of a Joplin group that opposes illegal immigration officially launched a recruiting drive on Sunday by holding a meeting that drew about 30 people.

“We are not a racist or hate group of any type,” said Erik VanDusen, the leader of the Joplin chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Anyone who supports discrimination or bigotry is not welcome in the organization, VanDusen told the crowd.

VanDusen, a 32-year-old retail manager, argued unsecured borders encourage drug trafficking. Illegal aliens without health insurance, meanwhile, put a strain on health care and drive up costs for legal residents, he said.

The national organization of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has likened itself to a “National Citizens’ Neighborhood Watch” program seeking to stem the tide of illegal aliens.

But Adolfo Castillo, president and founder of the Tri-State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the issue is larger in scope and people need to examine all the factors fueling illegal immigration.

Castillo cited the North American Free Trade Agreement as a factor, arguing that agreement triggered a devaluation of the peso and drove many companies to relocate their factories from Mexico to places like China.

Those lost jobs have not been restored by new economic development, causing poverty to flourish, he said.

Amid that economic climate, many have come to the United States in search of work. Even if immigrants land only jobs that pay several dollars an hour, that still pays far more than they might earn in their native countries, Castillo said.

He argued that the United States should revisit its requirements for citizenship and visas, which can be onerous and take several years for people to complete. Devising a system that is “more friendly, more accessible and more expeditious” for immigrants to become citizens would help curb illegal immigration, he said.

Greg Thompson, director of the state Minuteman organization in Oklahoma and the development director for the national organization, warned at Sunday night’s meeting that porous borders with Mexico and Canada offer a back door for al-Qaida terrorists to infiltrate the United States.

Thompson also called the smuggling of illegal aliens “an absolute slave trade” in which both smugglers and employers prey on poor people.

The smugglers, dubbed “coyotes,” will transport people in cramped vehicles without concern for their health or safety, he said.

Those who cannot finish the journey, either because of illness or injury, are often left in the desert to die, he said. Those who do arrive illegally are then put in a position where they cannot complain about poor working or living conditions.

“This is a national tragedy, and we promote it, we let it go on,” he said.

The Minuteman group thus targets the employers of illegal aliens more than the aliens themselves, Thompson said.

Goals of the organization include identifying those employers as well as landlords of illegal aliens, illegal check-cashing outfits and employer pick-up sites for illegal aliens, according to its literature.



Membership

Nationwide, the Minutemen have 6,000 members, Thompson said.



Derek Spellman writes for The Joplin (Mo.) Globe.

Abolish Nafta ... problem solved

NAFTA may have caused Mexico to loose jobs. These jobs were American jobs first - then Mexican jobs.

What does he think Americans are supposed to do when the illegals take their jobs.

He argued that the United States should revisit its requirements for citizenship and visas, which can be onerous and take several years for people to complete. Devising a system that is “more friendly, more accessible and more expeditious” for immigrants to become citizens would help curb illegal immigration, he said.

Another 'open the borders and give every Mexican citizenship and illegal immigration will end' idiot. When will these morons get it, we don't want to be turned into a Mexican colony. We have enough trouble providing for our own people, with all the money the goverment wastes and steals now. We sure can't afford a new welfare state to support 100+ million illiterate, uneducated, unskilled, non-English speaking, baby making machines.

If the government would consider changing requirements for residency and work visas, they better consider educated English speakers. These people should have skills or degrees in what is needed in the United States and be paid the same wage as an American. These people will pay taxes and support our economy rather than destroy it.

Devising a system that is “more friendly, more accessible and more expeditious” for immigrants to become citizens would help curb illegal immigration, he said.

I can't believe that comment came from a representative of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. What in the world was the guy thinking? Giving more immigrants access and citizenship will not aid in halting illegal immigration, it will only burden our society with more poverty level citizens, which the middle class will have to support through taxes!!!

The United States does not need more immigration! If anything it needs to look at ways of reducing it. For example, the visa lottery and anchor baby program needs to be the first thing receiving the axe. Just my opinion.

I recall that the president was talking about getting rid of that anchor baby thing so both mom and baby can go back to where mom came from.

Originally Posted by MW

Devising a system that is “more friendly, more accessible and more expeditious” for immigrants to become citizens would help curb illegal immigration, he said.

I can't believe that comment came from a representative of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. What in the world was the guy thinking? Giving more immigrants access and citizenship will not aid in halting illegal immigration, it will only burden our society with more poverty level citizens, which the middle class will have to support through taxes!!!

The United States does not need more immigration! If anything it needs to look at ways of reducing it. For example, the visa lottery and anchor baby program needs to be the first thing receiving the axe. Just my opinion.

I think your quote came from Castillo?