Thread: Tricks of the Trade of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

This page was interesting reading on the practices used by the illegal alien supporters to garner sympathy, change the mindsets of people with words, and other ways, means, tricks etc. to control the debate and defeat ordinances. Always good to read the play book. Please note the TIRRC in Nashville mentioned again.

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Strategies for Action

Through conversations with residents who have fought off anti-immigrant ordinances in their own towns, we have gathered tips on how to execute successful actions. One thing has become clear: These ordinances can only be fought with a strategic show of force from residents opposed to the law in a broad coalition representing both local interests and legal advocates. Usually the ordinances are passed within a month or two of drafting, thus leaving organizers little time to act.

Once you have conducted a power analysis to determine the audience for your efforts, it is important to choose actions that will work well for the dynamics of your audience. You can’t convince everyone in your town to oppose the ordinance, but you can influence key players to defeat the law. In many towns where these ordinances have passed, there has been little to no public opposition to the law. In those areas, supporters of the ordinance have sent in letters, called councilmen, and gathered at town hall meetings to show their support. It is crucial that we out-organize them.

Before an Ordinance Has Been Drafted

Most politicians choose to discuss the ordinance to gauge public opinion before they draft the ordinance. If you hear that an ordinance is under consideration in your town, you do not need to wait until it is drafted to act. You can begin to strategize immediately.

· Support Political Allies- Councilmen and mayors can’t fight these ordinances if they don’t have the support of residents. It is important to identify who on the council could be against the ordinance, meet with them, and publicly show your support for them early on.
· Testify before Introduced- Forty Fort, PA - Residents warned the city council of the economic damage and social strife that these ordinances can bring. In Forty Fort, the fear of the legal and economic repercussions of such a bill led to it being tabled.
· Get out of the Gate Quick- Florida - The Florida Immigration Coalition wasted no time in sending an organizer to Avon Park to begin strategizing with local partners on how to work in coalition and how best to fight the ordinance. That timing was essential to their success.
· Use the Press- Rogers, AR - news of the ordinance came through local newspapers. By writing letters to the editor and op-ed pieces in advance of the ordinances, residents were able to sway public opinion away from the mayor, and raise important opposition to the ordinance.
· Connect with Legal Advocates Early- Beaufort, SC - Organizers worked successfully alongside local attorneys and major law firms to let the city council know that there would be legal ramifications if an ordinance was passed.
· Start Strategizing Pro-Immigrant Legislation- Now is a good time to begin strategizing; using pro-immigrant ordinances to shift the debate in your town (See the Immigrant Friendly Organizing Handles section of this toolkit.)

While the Ordinance is in Reading

Once an ordinance has been drafted, you may have only a few weeks to organize opposition before an ordinance goes to a vote:

· Public Display of Opposition- Beaufort, SC - Organizers, including the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, brought together more than 250 people to demonstrate at the final reading and vote of the ordinance. They had 10 people prepped to speak before the council armed with the essential messaging points, and they had others ready to speak if needed.
· Use Technology to Connect- Nashville, TN - The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition used their existing website to effectively communicate with coalition members. They maintained weekly updates to inform residents of the progress of the debate and organize diverse groups that are opposed to the ordinance. TIRRC succeeded in defeating all three ordinances in Nashville!
· Pivot to Pro-Immigration Legislation- Allentown, PA - Organizers used a pivoting method to shift the center of the debate around the ordinance. The initial debate centered on the negative impact of immigration. Organizers banned together and proposed a pro-immigration ordinance (modeled on one from Boston, MA). This opened the door to shifting the debate to the positive aspects of immigration, and it showed that there was united support for a pro-immigration ordinance. Ultimately, the anti-immigrant ordinance was tabled.
· Re-center the Debate on the Federal Government- Asheville, NC - Organizers saw that councilmen were pushing the ordinance in order to “send a message to the federal government” that they wanted immigration reform. In light of this, they succeeded in tabling the ordinance and had the council write a letter to their federal representatives urging them to support CIR. This is a positive “bait and switch” technique that effectively re-centers the debate where it should be on the federal government.
· Reframe the Debate- Nashville, TN - TIRRC renamed the housing ordinance the “Illegal Landlord Bill”. By using this new name consistently, the title entered the public debate and successfully characterized the ordinance in a negative light. The ordinance was eventually tabled.

If the Ordinance Passes

· Keep up the Legal Pressure- In Hazelton, PA; Riverside, NJ; Valley Park, MO; and Escondido, CA, coalitions of residents have brought effective legal challenges against the ordinances. These ordinances are essentially unconstitutional, and legal challenges will be the last defense against them spreading. It is important for advocates across the country to watch these towns and keep residents informed of legal development, as the legal outcomes may decide if these ordinances can spread further.
· Petition to Repeal- Farmer’s Branch, TX - An anti-immigrant ordinance has recently passed. Fortunately the town has a clause according to which residents can repeal an ordinance with a petition comprising 5% of the registered voters in the town. A local coalition has begun such a petition.
· Keep Track of the Impact- In order to fight these ordinances we need comprehensive information on the negative economic and social impact of the laws. You can be among the first to provide concrete evidence that these ordinances are harmful, by keeping track of how the ordinance affects the community (i.e. exodus of residents, closing of businesses, cost of enforcement and legal battles to taxpayers, etc.).

http://fairimmigration.org/learn/immigr ... ction.html

GEORGIA
thanx! great find.

It's simple manipulation being honed and used skillfully thanx to the lib media. Marketing 101.

They'd have zip without the media's help!

Now we must be our own media and show them what the American people are made of

These ordinances can only be fought with a strategic show of force

Emphasis on the word "Force"! Here we are shown the true color of intent! Not through discourse, and discussion, but FORCE! This should be enough to brand those that adhere to this strategy as violent revolutionaries attempting to overthrow the rule of law!

coalitions of residents

This further tells me that these groups are comprised of Illegals and non-Citizens! It is important to point these aspects out to supporters of Legal Immigration!

In synopsis, groups of Anarchists, and Illegals, non-citizens, and criminals are banding together to espouse their beliefs through (violent confrontation) force!