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Proposed ordinance roils immigration debate
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 10, 2006
By CHRIS RICHARD and SHARON McNARY
The Press-Enterprise
Activists on both sides of the nation's immigration debate say a proposed San Bernardino law will galvanize their local supporters and offers a chance to publicize their views.
The San Bernardino City Council on Monday will consider the City of San Bernardino Illegal Immigration Relief Act Ordinance, a measure submitted by a resident that would prohibit the city from operating day-laborer centers and require private centers to ensure that day laborers are authorized to work in the United States. It also would empower police to seize the vehicles of employers soliciting illegal immigrants for day labor.
On May 4, the county registrar of voters verified that 2,217 registered city voters had signed petitions supporting the Relief Act. The San Bernardino city charter gives the council 20 days from that date to enact it as law or submit it for a referendum.
That schedule fits the political needs of immigration-rights activists, said Armando Navarro, a UCR professor and coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights.
"Between now and November, we're going to have to do battle in San Bernardino," Navarro said.
Immigration-rights activists held a series of demonstrations this spring, including May 1 rallies attended by at least 1 million people nationwide.
Since then, public attention has shifted to the congressional debate, Navarro said.
"We are losing the momentum that has been created in the last few weeks and months. We're at a standstill, especially with what's going on in Washington, D.C.," Navarro said. "It's important that we show our power."
At a meeting Tuesday, Alliance members called on opponents of the proposed San Bernardino law to attend Monday's 3 p.m. City Council meeting to speak out -- preferably in Spanish -- against the proposal.
Joseph Turner, who wrote the San Bernardino measure, also hopes it will galvanize residents who want tougher enforcement of immigration laws.
"At the federal level, we have very little traction," Turner said. "It's easy to feel that these decisions are out of our hands. But I'm trying to sell an idea here, that individuals can have an effect at the local level. If we do that, we'll lead and Congress will have to follow."
Turner said he hopes publicity over the San Bernardino law will lead others to emulate it. He said an official at another city has inquired about writing a similar law for his community.
Turner said he doesn't know how many supporters he'll draw at Monday's council meeting.
"The people who support what I'm doing have already spoken, when they signed the petitions," he said.
Rubidoux resident Robert Dennis said he plans to attend. He said he feels federal officials have ignored his demands for tougher immigration laws.
Members of the March 25 Coalition Against HR 4437, the group that put on two recent large pro-amnesty marches in Los Angeles and helped coordinate a national boycott May 1, said they would help oppose the San Bernardino measure.
Coalition spokesman Jesse Diaz said Wednesday that his group would urge people from outside San Bernardino to go there to demonstrate against the measure. A date for such action had not yet been determined.
"Hopefully, on the national level, we can eliminate all of these racist-motivated flare-ups in the local communities," Diaz said.
Jim Morris, chief of staff to Mayor Patrick J. Morris, said city officials do not plan to alter their meeting schedule or location to anticipate large crowds. The last council meeting fell on May 1, coinciding with immigration-rights demonstrations.
But while some city officials feared that demonstrators would disrupt the council meeting, everything went smoothly, Jim Morris said. He said he expects any demonstrations on Monday would be orderly as well.
Reach Chris Richard at (909) 806-3076 or crichard@PE.com
Reach Sharon McNary at (951) 368-9458 or smcnary@PE.com
I heard on the local news here in Richmond, this morning, that the Capitol Police down at the state capitol say that the Minutemen do NOT have a permit (as of 9:00 am) and thus will not be allowed to hold their rally tonight. I'm not sure if that situation has changed or not.
BTW, bring an umbrella if you go. Rain and thunderstorms tonight, possibly severe.
}:-)4
Thanks for the update, and BTTT
UPDATE FROM SANDI GILCHRIST ---
Police Sgt. Martha Robinson told them they can have a rally on the sidewalk. They can use a megaphone, but not a microphone, and they cannot block traffic.
Congressman Virgil Goode has offered his support and assistance but cannot attend tonight.
bump
Demonstrators against illegal immigration listen to a speech near the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville where members of the Minutemen Project stopped on their way to Washington, Monday, May 8, 2006. The Minutemen Project has drawn volunteers from across America to California and other border states to look out for migrants trying to sneak into the United States. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Jim Thomas, center, of Nashville, holds a sign as he and others demonstrating against illegal immigration listen to a speech near the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville where members of the Minutemen Project stopped on their way to Washington. D.C., Monday, May 8, 2006. The Minutemen Project has drawn volunteers from across America to California and other border states to look out for migrants trying to sneak into the United States. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Thanks for the update Doug!
Particularly love the We The People petition posted by La Dita on this forum.
One more headsup to folks heading down to the Capitol...there's tornado warnings out a few counties northwest (Louisa, Spotsylvania). There's an ugly clump of storms coming in from the southwest that might or might not miss downtown Richmond, so be prepared for some pretty bad weather.
Good luck and God bless! We're with you in spirit even if we can't be there in person.
}:-)4