Thread: S.C.: Minutemen protest immigrant services

Posted on Sun, Sep. 28, 2008
Minutemen protest immigrant services
Identification doled out by Mexican consul at church
By Tonya Root

Members of the Horry County Minutemen found their intentions to protest against Mexican Consulate officials offering immigrant services at St. James Catholic Church near Conway somewhat challenged early Saturday.

But even when the group got settled, their presence didn't seem to bother those gathered at the church.

The Minutemen first set up across the street from the church on Academy Drive, but Horry County police Lt. Jay Brantly had them leave because they did not have a permit or written permission from homeowners whose land they were on.

"Absent a permit and permission of property owners they can't be out here," Brantly said, who checked with the two property owners about permission to be on the land.

Unable to get at permit or permission from those homeowners Saturday, the group of about 20 members moved down the road several hundred feet to another lot where they did get the owner's permission and held signs in protest of the consulate gathering.

Mike Visnjic, a minuteman organizer, said he was told by Horry County police that a permit was not needed for the protest. He also said he checked with state Department of Transportation officials, who told him it was a county road.

"We're being lied to by Horry County government," Visnjic said as he packed up American flags, a couple of chairs and signs about the Minutemen to move from the original site. "Now our protection from Horry County tells us to leave in violation of our First Amendment rights."

Visnjic said his organization protested Mexican consulate officials at the church providing identity cards to illegal immigrants.

He said this "mobile" consulate would encourage other illegal immigrants to come to the area and take government services. It was the first such protest by the organization, he said.

"They bring in illegal aliens and attract illegal aliens to our community," Visnjic said. "This is a violation of the rules of our country."

A few hundred people spent the morning in the church parking lot. Some cooked food while others waited to be seen by Mexican Consulate officials, who were inside the church. Many of those at the church did not want to be identified, but said the protest did not bother them.

Rosa Curto, consul of Mexico, said it was the first time this year her agency has come to the area to provide identification cards to Mexican immigrants. She said she has seen similar demonstrations before in other parts of the Carolinas.

"It's a good way for them to express themselves, which I respect," Curto said. "I think they have a right to be here."

She said the demonstration did not bother her or deter her from her goal of providing identification cards from the Mexican government. She said officials used computers connected to a Mexican database and required those seeking cards to have an original birth certificate and form of official identification issued from Mexico.

"For them it's a way to demonstrate their ID without doubt and their nationality without doubt," Curto said.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/l ... 10788.html

So they break through our borders without papers, then the Consulate comes running to give papers. What the heck?

She said the demonstration did not bother her or deter her from her goal of providing identification cards from the Mexican government. She said officials used computers connected to a Mexican database and required those seeking cards to have an original birth certificate and form of official identification issued from Mexico.

"For them it's a way to demonstrate their ID without doubt and their nationality without doubt," Curto said.

Did not get permission to be in America? So is this Consulate required to furnish names of his Mexicans?