Thread: NJ: Illegal alien lobbies/fundraises for day labor center

The utter gall and arrogance of this illegal alien.....fundraising and lobbying to raise money so he and fellow illegal aliens can have a day labor center to seek illegal employment. The funny thing is that Maria Juega a Princeton-based ethno-centric illegal alien advocacy group leader...is actually threatened by this illegal alien...why? Probably b/c he's competing with her organization for funds, donations and support in NJ. Now she has competition and this guy's getting free press. Hilarious. Feeling uncomfortable are we now, Maria?


http://myheraldnews.com/view.html?type= ... b_id=35542

Immigrant organizer in Passaic puts self at risk
By KAREN KELLER, HERALD NEWS | 05/28/08 02:00 AM

PASSAIC -- As an undocumented day laborer, Fabian Galindo would probably be wise to keep a low profile these days.

Instead, the 29-year-old is phoning politicians, government officials and other community activists, soliciting donations of goods and services for the city's day-laborer center.

As a result, both the center and Galindo -- its leader -- are gaining visibility.

He's driven by a sense of social justice, he said.

Michael Fernandez, landlord of the one-room Parker Avenue storefront that houses the center, compared Galindo to a famous Mexican-American civil rights leader.

"It's like Chavez and the farmers," Fernandez said, referring to Cesar Chavez, who organized farm workers across the nation starting in the 1950s.

Galindo, a native of Mexico, has been relentless in asking public officials, both local and abroad, for help to realize his dream of organizing, educating and even entertaining the city's residents most in need.

His successes are on a far smaller scale than Chavez's, of course. But then again he faces numerous challenges as an undocumented organizer. He doesn't speak much English. He doesn't have easy access to resources such as the Internet.

And, making the challenge even greater, he has the support of only a minority of the roughly 200 Hispanic men who wait near The Home Depot each day in hopes of earning a day's pay through construction work. Some think the center is a waste of time. Others don't want to help pay the $500 monthly rent.

Maria Juega, an immigration advocate and trustee of the Princeton-based Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said it sounds as though Galindo is putting himself at risk as an undocumented resident and community leader.

"I'm surprised that he's so brazen. If I were him I would keep a low profile," Juega said by telephone Tuesday. "He's taking a big risk by attracting attention."

She said Galindo is one of several undocumented immigrants in New Jersey working against odds to organize their communities. Not only do they risk being a target for immigration officials, but they face mundane challenges: getting around without a driver's license, typically living in very crowded conditions, and relying on libraries and other public outlets for Internet access.

"They don't have a home office," Juega said. "It's a miracle they get anything done with such miniscule resources."

And yet earlier this year, Galindo helped secure federal nonprofit status for the center, called United Day Laborers of New Jersey, where contractors can go to find workers who are center members.

He's working on getting identification name cards for workers to add professionalism to the center, which has two computers -- including one with an unreliable Internet connection -- that were donated by Mexican officials at Galindo's prompting.

On Mother's Day he expanded the center's purpose to serve the entire community. The center hosted a party where local mothers were given presents such as cans of cactus, tortillas, plates, flowers and blenders, donated by local Mexican food imports company Mi Pueblito and a Brooklyn-based benefactor.

This Sunday he's holding a class at the center on workplace safety for day laborers and any interested residents. It will be taught by a federal official from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In June, he's planning to hold a children's fashion show.

Galindo isn't afraid of "la migra" -- immigration officials.

"We already cheated death by crossing the border to get here," said Galindo in Spanish. He entered the U.S. through Arizona in 2000. He worked in Chicago and then Long Island, N.Y., before coming to Passaic in 2005.

A native of Mexico's Puebla state, Galindo started working seven days a week at age 8 to help support his family. The eldest of four siblings, he recalls feeling like a leader and organizer early in his life. He is single with no children.

Galindo said he often goes to Internet cafes to research ways to help the center, for example looking up the addresses of Mexico's president and secretary of foreign relations (he wrote letters to them recently).

He also solicits help from local political figures.

In February, Galindo made a phone call to a man running for the Board of Education. Galindo asked if the candidate could offer help to the day-laborer center in exchange for rallying support for the candidate in the April election.

But the candidate was confused. He had one question: "Can you vote for me?"

"No," Galindo said he replied. But he knew people in the community that could, he recalled also saying.

The candidate declined to help. A few weeks later the candidate ran into Galindo at a candidates' debate. The day-laborer center was an event sponsor.

"He seemed shocked," Galindo said.

Then Galindo asked this reporter how he could submit an opinion piece to be published in this newspaper. He needed to know the maximum word count for submissions.
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Posted by C-ROCKS on 05/28/08 04:36 PM:

I THINK THAT GUY IS A BIG JOKE
I WORK HARD PAY TAXES THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME
THING NO BREAKS

This Sunday he's holding a class at the center on workplace safety for day laborers and any interested residents. It will be taught by a federal official from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

What is a a federal official from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration doing teaching day workers? Is this official getting paid overtime for this class?

A native of Mexico's Puebla state, Galindo started working seven days a week at age 8 to help support his family. The eldest of four siblings, he recalls feeling like a leader and organizer early in his life. He is single with no children.

Galindo said he often goes to Internet cafes to research ways to help the center, for example looking up the addresses of Mexico's president and secretary of foreign relations (he wrote letters to them recently).

What grade is an 8 year old in--3rd? So he can use the internet and write letters?

And, making the challenge even greater, he has the support of only a minority of the roughly 200 Hispanic men who wait near The Home Depot each day in hopes of earning a day's pay through construction work. Some think the center is a waste of time. Others don't want to help pay the $500 monthly rent.

Man come on I want to be famous . Oh Si' we don't need no stinking center . What we need are new Nike's cause your going to get us busted. Si'

"We already cheated death by crossing the border to get here," said Galindo in Spanish

And now you're cheating the American taxpayer.[/b]

Galindo, a native of Mexico, has been relentless in asking public officials, both local and abroad, for help to realize his dream of organizing, educating and even entertaining the city's residents most in need.

This guy is an admitted illegal and is flaunting the law, no rather throwing it in the face of those elected officials he chooses to contact! These elected officials are so gutless that they do not even realize when they are being made fools of by the brazen and arrogant activities of this illegal scoflaw.

Why hasn't ICE been notified!

all it takes is a phone call to 1-866-DHS-2ICE and perhaps a fax of this article. Maria Juega's outfit should be investigated as well. ...they aid/assist/ illegal aliens in the Princeton area.

As an undocumented day laborer, Fabian Galindo would probably be wise to keep a low profile these days.

Instead, the 29-year-old is phoning politicians, government officials and other community activists, soliciting donations of goods and services for the city's day-laborer center.

This illegal alien is openly calling on politicians and government officials for help in opening a day-labor center for illegal aliens AND NO ONE - ESPECIALLY ICE, IS GOING AFTER THIS GUY?!

Please note the names of the city council---I know there are people who will accuse me of being "racist" (esp. La Raza) but I would like to know how many are anchor babies and I woud not be shocked (because it's NJ) to find that there may even be illegals in office. I would not move back there for any reason.

Gary Schaer Council President
E-mail Council President Schaer

Maritza Colón-Montañez E-mail Councilwoman Montañez
Gerardo Fernandez E-mail Councilman Fernandez
Jose Garcia E-mail Councilman Garcia
VACANT
Chaim M. Munk E-mail Councilman Munk
Daniel J. Schwartz

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

"We already cheated death by crossing the border to get here," said Galindo in Spanish

And now you're cheating the American taxpayer.[/b]

Touche ReggieMay!

Oh, and BTW, WELCOME!!!!!