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Thousands march against immigration crackdown
3/4/2006, 4:26 p.m. PT
By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER
The Associated Press


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A boisterous but peaceful march of about 4,000 demonstrators opposed to pending stricter immigration legislation drummed and chanted through downtown Portland on Saturday, bringing together Hispanic organizations, labor unions, church and social groups.

They were opposed to pending legislation in Congress that would bring stiff increases in migration enforcement. They also protested the position of Ron Saxton, who is seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination in May's primary.

"Saxton, we pick your food," read some signs.

Saxton has said that as governor he would stop supplying state benefits and driver's licenses to people living in Oregon illegally and has pledged "zero tolerance."

His two Republican opponents have aired views along the same lines.

The number of illegal immigrants in Oregon is not certain and probably varies by season. Some estimates put the number in the 150,000 range, part of an estimated 11 million in the nation.

Saturday's demonstrators paraded for an amnesty, similar to one granted in 1986, or other moves that would let them stay in the United States legally.

"No amnesty, no peace," they chanted. "No justice, no peace."

The House bill, which passed last year and is now in the Senate, would beef up border security with the help of local law enforcement and military technology and impose tougher penalties for smuggling and re-entry.

It makes drunken driving a deportable offense and make unlawful presence in the United States a felony.

It also would require all employers to submit Social Security numbers and other information to a national data base to verify the legal status of workers.

Speakers at a rally prior to the march said treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement have damaged the agricultural base in Mexico, forcing more people to come here looking for work.

Some predicted the bill in the Senate would make it a crime to help illegal immigrants or provide for them in church soup kitchens.

"A crime versus people is a crime versus God," said David Leslie, executive director of the Ecumenical Council of Oregon. "It undercuts what it means to be a part of a caring world."

There were a few counterdemonstrators. Some held a banner reading "No border, no country."

"Don't pay attention to them, don't give them the opportunity to take away the message we have," urged Ramon Ramirez, who leads Oregon's farmworker union.

Those supporting reduced restrictions on illegal immigrants say they do dangerous, low-paying work nobody else wants and contribute to the economy by paying taxes.

"Immigrants made America," read one sign. "Check your family tree," read another.