Thread: Protest in Butler County

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/05/ ... ation.html

Immigration Rights Protest In Butler Country




Local Reaction To Bush's Stand On Immigration Reform (5/15/06)

Immigration Debate: What About Non-Hispanic Illegals? (5/16/06)

Immigration Sweeps Could Pose Legal, Logistical Problems (5/21/06)

Sheriff's Office Questioned After Alleged Illegal Immigrants Detained (5/20/06)

Immigrants Plan Marches, Rallies Around Ohio (4/30/06)

Immigration Boycott Set For Monday (4/30/06)



Reported by: Lynn Giroud
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: 9News
First Posted: 5/28/2006 10:49:19 PM
Butler County has been getting a lot of attention for its sheriff's controversial crackdown on illegal immigration.

Sheriff Richard Jones has billed the federal government for the cost of jailing illegal immigrants and has even rounded up and detained some illegal immigrants who were working at a construction site.

Some of those who say he's gone too far voiced their opposition outside the jail Sunday night.

About a dozen members of a group called the Coalition for the Dignity and Rights of Immigrants held a small protest outside the Butler County jail Sunday night.

They're accusing the sheriff of harassing illegal immigrants as well as saying that he is over-stepping his authority.

"Now is the time for Latinos," said said Beatriz Maya, one of the protesters."We are the new immigrants. We are here to contribute."

"We are going to make this country better," said Maya, "just give us a chance."

"We work. We are hard-working people," said Sylvia Castellanos, one of the protest organizers. "We contribute to the economy of this country, to the other countries."

"We want our families to live in dignity," said Castellanos.

Dignity is what this group of protesters says all immigrants -- whether legal or not -- deserve.

They stood across the street from the Butler County jail Sunday night -- a jail where there is a sign out front that says, "Illegal Aliens Here" -- to say that Sheriff Richard Jones has gone too far.

Jones has drawn national attention for billing the federal government more than $150,000 since last year to cover jail costs for illegal immigrants charged with crimes.

And just in the last couple of weeks his deputies detained 18 men who admitted to being here illegally.

The sheriff's department was called to a home-building site on the report of a fight when they discovered the illegal immigrants.

But deputies had to release them that night because local law enforcement does not have the authority to detain illegal immigrants unless they're charged with a crime.

Another controversial crackdown on illegal immigration in Butler County is one proposed by county commissioner Michael Fox.

It would require homebuilders to sign pledges that they will not hire illegal immigrants and the county would enforce it by conducting random spot checks.

"We're directing it not towards immigrants, we're directing to those that are here illegally" said Fox, "but more importantly, those who hiring them."

"I mean, I just don't wanna round up everybody and put them on a bus and send them back," said Fox.

"What I want to do, is protect this country, enforce our laws, and bring some sanity out of the chaos that we're dealing with," said Fox, "so that the costs that our community is bearing, and across this country, is off our backs."

Fox says it costs taxpayers in Butler County over a half-million dollars a year just to jail illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) already has its eyes on that proposal, calling it illegal and in violation of civil rights.

There will be meetings about that proposal in the next few weeks, and it will be one that will be watched not only by the Tri-state but also across the country, as well as across the border by our neighboring countries.

So as the national debate on immigration reform rages on, the spotlight remains on Butler County.

"Now is the time for Latinos," said said Beatriz Maya, one of the protesters."We are the new immigrants. We are here to contribute."

Then contribute by paying the 1/2 million dollar jail bill for your illegal criminal buddies.

Dixie

Quote:
"Now is the time for Latinos," said said Beatriz Maya, one of the protesters."We are the new immigrants. We are here to contribute."

Poor Beatrice Maya is not politically correct since she and others are not the new immigrants....they are the new illegal aliens who twist our laws to sanctify their breaking of them.

"We work. We are hard-working people," said Sylvia Castellanos, one of the protest organizers. "We contribute to the economy of this country, to the other countries."

Hey, Sylvia! Why not go back to "the other countries" and contribute to the US from there for a change!

Great thinking....Time for the US to RECIEVE some benefits from those we've been benefitting for the last 75 years.

MJ

About a dozen members of a group called the Coalition for the Dignity and Rights of Immigrants held a small protest outside the Butler County jail Sunday night

Dignity & Rights.....THIS, you mental midget

Considering how Mexico deals with anyone who is not a Mexican citizen by birth, I take the demands of these illegal aliens with a grain of salt.