Thread: WI: Immigration 'reality tour' hits Sheboygan

Posted July 11, 2007

Immigration 'reality tour' hits Sheboygan

By Belia Ortega
Sheboygan Press staff

An immigration forum at Wesley United Methodist Church attracted about 30 community residents Tuesday night.


Themed the "Wisconsin Reality Tour," the forum focused on local immigration issues and its organizers pressed for fair immigration legislation.


Voces de la Frontera, a Milwaukee nonprofit group that advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, organized the forum, which is being held in 10 Wisconsin cities in eight days.


Other cities on the tour are Madison, La Crosse, Beloit, Whitewater, Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau, Milwaukee and Racine.


"We want to see a deeper understanding of the problem and I think the majority of people do recognize that immigrants are contributing to the economy and they need a legalization program," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, founder of Voces.


Among those attending was Sheboygan Mayor Juan Perez, but he did not speak at the forum and left before it ended. Perez could not be reached later for comment.


Neumann-Ortiz added that unless Congress fixes a "broken" immigration system, there would be continued racial tension and more workplace abuse.


The current U.S. immigration system, along with the North American Free Trade Agreement, are benefiting businesses and hurting all workers, Neumann-Ortiz said during the panel discussion.


"Our system of laws is broken and it's created a workforce of a group of people that are more vulnerable in the workplace," she said.


The panel discussion included clergy members, advocates, a U.S. citizen affected by immigration laws and Luz Huitron, 55, who was among the illegal immigrant workers arrested during a raid at the Star Packaging plant in Whitewater on Aug. 8, 2006.


"I didn't come to this country to break the laws," Huitron said in Spanish. "I just came to be with my family. I'm not doing any harm. They treat us like criminals and working isn't a crime."


Sheboygan residents who listened to the testimonials said they got some clarification about how complex the immigration problem is.


Ceil DePrey of Sheboygan said the current immigration system is more than just a border issue.


"The fact is that our import, export program is way out of whack and what it's doing is robbing the United States people of their jobs and their security," said DePrey, who did not wish to have her age printed.


Jo Posewitz, 71, of Sheboygan, said she understands both sides of the immigration issue and was at the forum to learn about possible solutions to the problem.


Elvira Garcia, 33, of Sheboygan said she had hoped to get more information about immigrants' rights. Garcia is a legal resident, but she knows people who are not.


"It's frustrating for them," Garcia said. "It's the uncertainty of not knowing what will or will not happen to them."

Reach Belia Ortega at bortega@sheboygan-press.com and 453-5169.

http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbc ... 62/SHEnews

By Belia Ortega
Sheboygan Press staff

An immigration forum at Wesley United Methodist Church attracted about 30 community residents Tuesday night.


Themed the "Wisconsin Reality Tour," the forum focused on local immigration issues and its organizers pressed for fair immigration legislation.

Voces de la Frontera, a Milwaukee nonprofit group that advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, organized the forum

Why is it that fair immigration legislation and comprehensive immigration reform always seem to mean letting them break our laws?

"We want to see a deeper understanding of the problem and I think the majority of people do recognize that immigrants are contributing to the economy and they need a legalization program," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, founder of Voces.

"A deeper understanding" can only mean amnesty, right?
Like the economy just can't do a thing without illegals to help!

"I didn't come to this country to break the laws," Huitron said in Spanish. "I just came to be with my family. I'm not doing any harm. They treat us like criminals and working isn't a crime."

How hard is it to understand that if you come here illegally, you are breaking the law, and you are a criminal! Tell your family to go back to where you came from and you can be with them there!