Thread: A push for immigrants

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/14183532.htm

Posted on Sat, Mar. 25, 2006
`WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND OUR DREAMS'
A push for immigrants
Thousands expected to attend uptown rally for immigration reform
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com

Zulema Lopez spoke of acceptance as she watched her 11-year-old daughter, Iris, color letters of a sign that read: "We don't want to live in the shadows."

Red, white, blue and pink markers covered a table at the Latin American Coalition office where Lopez and her three daughters, among others, spent Friday afternoon making dozens of demonstration signs.

"We want people to understand our dreams," said Lopez, a Honduran immigrant living in Charlotte on a temporary visa with limited rights.

In what is being touted as potentially the largest pro-immigrant rally ever in Charlotte, as many as 3,000 Latinos and supporters from across the Carolinas are expected to gather at Marshall Park at 3 p.m. today to call for "comprehensive" immigration reform, including an easier path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Similar rallies have drawn thousands to Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Washington, Los Angeles and other cities. More than 100,000 people attended a Chicago rally March 10 dubbed "La Marcha."

Organizers have saturated the community with fliers, e-mail and phone calls to raise interest in the Charlotte march. Spanish-language media has dedicated dozens of newspaper articles and hours of radio broadcasts on the immigration reform debate.

The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte has given its support for the rally, requesting legislators work toward an immigration policy that protects national security and respects "human rights of those who come to our country as refugees from political and economic hardship" in their home countries.

"The immigrants of the past and of today bring with them wonderful gifts and talents that they want to share with those around them," Bishop Peter Jugis said in a statement that will be read at today's rally. "Let us work together to make it possible for all to live with dignity and without fear in this country which has been built by immigrants over more than two hundred years."

Charlotte-area Latino advocacy groups report receiving calls from Monroe, Huntersville, Rock Hill and Statesville. El Pueblo, a Raleigh-based group, will bring a bus of supporters.

"We can't depend that other people are going to represent us unless we're willing to participate," said Adriana Gálvez Taylor, a Latino advocate and organizer.

The rally comes days before the U.S. Senate begins debating options for immigration reform.

In December, the House passed an enforcement bill that includes greater border security and criminalizing groups that aid illegal immigrants. Another proposal by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., provides for a guest-worker program. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is sponsoring a bill that would toughen border security without offering a guest-worker program.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has proposed a compromise bill that includes guest-worker and enforcement provisions.

Supporters of the House bill, however, counter that tougher enforcement is necessary so the country can get a handle on illegal immigration.

"I don't think anyone is going to stop illegals crossing the border any more than we're going to stop people from speeding," said Ron Woodard, director of NC Listen, an immigration reform group that supports greater border enforcement. "There are always going to be people to break the law. What you want to do is get your arms around the problem and get it under control."

But Latino activists who fear the implementation of any bill similar to the one passed by the House argue that greater border enforcement will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. "We need to make legal immigration easier and illegal immigration harder," said Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin American Coalition. "It's not realistic to believe that 11 million people are going to leave the country if you say you have to leave the country by April 30."

Olga Libia, 21, an undocumented immigrant from Cuernavaca, Mexico, wants the opportunity to work here legally. She said her entire extended family, which includes about 20 aunts and uncles, plans to attend today's rally.

"A lot of people are talking about it," she said. "Most people I know will go. It's very important."

Immigration Statistics

• As many as 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

• About 390,000 undocumented immigrants in North Carolina.

SOURCE: Pew Hispanic Center

Excuse me. I don't give a DAMN what THEIR dreams are. US citizens have NO obligation to people sneaking in from foreign nations.

Grrrrrrr.....

RR

Olga Libia, 21, an undocumented immigrant from Cuernavaca, Mexico, wants the opportunity to work here legally. She said her entire extended family, which includes about 20 aunts and uncles, plans to attend today's rally.

Hell, I don't know anybody that has 20 aunts and uncles. Can you imagine?
This is disgusting!

Charlotte-area Latino advocacy groups report receiving calls from Monroe, Huntersville, Rock Hill and Statesville. El Pueblo, a Raleigh-based group, will bring a bus of supporters.

Wonder if we taxpayers paid for the gas with the money given to El Pueblo by the NC Legislature?

Olga Libia, 21, an undocumented immigrant from Cuernavaca, Mexico, wants the opportunity to work here legally. She said her entire extended family, which includes about 20 aunts and uncles, plans to attend today's rally.

Sounds pretty much like Olga's not having to send any money back to Mexico.

Rick Martinez, writer for Raleigh News Observer, illegal alien supporter, was on talk radio a couple of months ago. Caller asked him about remittances sent back to Mexico. He said that remittances actually went down for last year. Man on phone finally got him to admit the reason could be because more of their extended families were now in the US.

and they all live in the same house.. fire hazard. I remember when a house in my home town went up in flames it claimed the lives of 15 illegals... all family members.