http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 75262.html

Sept. 9, 2006, 10:55PM
Illegal immigration called threat to U.S.
40 protesters gather in first of a series of rallies


By ANITA HASSAN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

About 40 protesters gathered Saturday on the front steps of Houston City Hall in the first in a series of "visibility" rallies that will be held every week in different parts of the city to inform people about the dangers of illegal immigration.

"People need to know illegal immigration is a problem and it's a threat to the sovereignty and freedom of the United States," said U.S. Border Watch President Curtis Collier. The organization says its mission is to protect the country's borders.

Participants came dressed in patriotic garb, waved American flags and held signs that read "Stop the invasion, protect our borders now" and "Support legal immigration."

Jack Stokes traveled from Galveston to attend the rally, which he said was his first. The 38-year-old construction worker said he came to the rally because he feels that illegal immigration is holding down wages in the U.S. for working people.

"Illegal immigrants coming over here and taking the jobs for less and less," he said. "The pay scales will just continue to drop. I just hope everybody else sees it and stands up for themselves."

Wanda Sisco, a 70-year-old West University resident, carried her tiny dog in a tote bag on one shoulder and held a sign that read "Mr. President, build up that wall."

Sisco said she feels that illegal immigration has many negative effects, such as gang violence.

"Houston is a sanctuary for illegal immigration," said Sisco, who is also a member of Texas Minutemen. "And we have crime going through the roof."

As speakers addressed the rally, hisses and jeers came from the side of the steps where a group of 20 teens and people in their mid-20s stood holding signs that read, among other things, "Xenophobia is racism."

Ben Stevens, 24, a member of Anti-Racist Action, said the group was protesting to show that not everyone had anti-immigration views.

"We plan on having a continual campaign against the groups that would scapegoat immigration and use fear to spread hatred," he said.

Sarah Guitart, 16, and three other girls held a sign that read "No human is illegal." The Seven Lakes High School student said she used to live in Venezuela and had seen some of the poverty conditions that many people had to endure in some Latin American countries.

"I think we should be proud that people want to come to our country," she said.

However, President of Texans for Immigration Reform, Louise Whiteford, who also attended the rally against illegal immigration, said those who come to the country illegally may be confused about what they are getting themselves into. "The people that are coming over here think they are coming over for the American dream," said Whiteford, 76. "But they are just going to become a part of the cheap-labor core."

anita.hassan@chron.com