Posted on 04/07/2007 2:52:15 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thousands of people marched through downtown on Saturday, demanding a way for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to become citizens and condemning President Bush's latest proposal. Carrying signs saying "Amnesty Now," about 15,000 people danced to Mexican ranchera music and passed large American flags over their heads.
Organizers said many illegal immigrants were angry about a White House plan that would grant them work visas but require them to return home and pay thousands of dollars to become legal U.S. residents.
"Charging that much, Bush is going to be even more expensive than the coyotes," said protester Armando Garcia, 50, referring to smugglers who transport people across the Mexican border.
Alfredo Gonzalez, 33, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, marched with his wife and daughters, ages 6 and 8. He said he fears the stepped-up immigration raids occurring across the country.
"If they kick me out, who is going to take care of my daughters? The government? I don't think so," he said. "We need full legalization and need it now."
Immigrant rights advocates say many of the area's illegal immigrants feel betrayed by President Bush, who they had long considered an ally.
The White House's draft plan, leaked last week, calls for a new "Z" visa that would allow illegal immigrant workers to apply for three- year work permits. They would be renewable indefinitely, but would cost $3,500 each time.
To get a permit and become legal permanent residents, illegal immigrants would have to return to their home country, apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate to re-enter legally and pay a $10,000 fine.
The proposal has been sharply criticized by Hispanic advocacy groups, Democrats, the Roman Catholic Church and unions that have many immigrants in their ranks. They argue the cost of work permits and the green card application—which could total more than $20,000—are prohibitive for low-wage earners.
The plan is far more conservative than the one passed by the Senate last year with bipartisan backing and support from President Bush. That plan would have allowed many of the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, pay small fines and back taxes and clear a background check.
Many Senate conservatives opposed that plan, and it failed to gain traction in the then Republican-controlled House, which at the end of 2005 passed the punitive immigration reform bill that angered immigrant communities and led to massive protests.
"Last year, we were fighting for legalization, and this year we are fighting for legalization and against all these raids," said Maria Lopez, 50, an illegal immigrant who works as a seamstress and sends $200 a month home to family members in Mexico.
"We have no way to come up with that much money, and Bush knows that," she said. "He is doing this on purpose so we don't ever become legal residents."
What part of “illegal”, do they not understand? They entered here illegaly and now they’re whining? Unbelievable!
Close the borders.........
Why shouldn’t they whine? NObody does anything to send them back or keep them fron entering. We are reaping what we have sewn. Sad but true.
The same person that takes care of my daughters, their Father!
I wish we had a president who could really talk to them and explain how they have been ethnically cleansed from their homeland. I also wish we had a president who would threaten to take over Mexico if it continues to treat its people like garbage.
Almost sounds like the author made up the names and quotes himself.
But...but..America is evil and is more dangerous Iran or North Korea! Why do people want to come here?????
What you mean *we* Kemo Sabe?
Blame our president. It's what he wants.
Not that such a thing will ever come to pass..but just assume for the moment it does. I have read that it takes quite a bit of money to enter this country legally. Why should those who have circumvented our laws be given a free pass? Maybe they can get financial assistance from the employers, Church or other groups that support them.
As far as the raids go...this should have been happening all along. If you are legal, you have nothing to worry about.
susie
Perhaps American lawbreakers should fight for legislation that would shield them from being arrested by the police.
The illegal alien now stands out in full view and demands political power over the Americans.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Americans fight and die....so that Mr. Illegal Alien can dump on his country back home?
Why does this picture seem insane to me?
I once posted something far less unflattering about our president and was nearly kicked off FR for being "no different than a DU troll".
Glad to see those in charge have accepted the fact that bush's immigration policy is bad for America and are allowing dissenting comments to stay.
I suggest the gov move African and Haiti “immigrants” into the Hispanic “immigrant” neighborhoods....Talk about racism and discrimination!
Well one thing about Bush he manages to PO just about everyone.
Same here. ...although it took them years to figure it out, after hundreds of cyber casualties.
LOL!!
It's a shame, really. Lots of good conservatives tossed to the wayside over someone's inability to accept reality.
Exactly. “Immigrant” = ILLEGAL ALIEN !
It’s all upside from there.
Bush is bending over backwards for them and still they protest.
Way back when It Can’t Happen Here was written, the main character portraying the sleazy politician buying his way into office was Buzz Windrup who ran on a platform of $10,000 for each citizen upon his election, “Buzz, Buzz and Buzz it up for Windrup” being the slogan, his path to popularity and election was based on the unending greed of the electorate at large.
Buzz cut through his fictional America like a giant buzzsaw until all sensible people ran for the border (straight north) and the U.S. became a fascist dictarorship in short order and no one got his $10,000.
Couldn’t have worked then and it can’t work now.
No matter what you give a greedy public, it is never enough.
dictatorship, hate this keyboard...
Immigrants, my tamale.
They can always stay in that worker’s paradise, Mexico. Or I’m sure Fidel would take them. That said, I wish I knew how to fix Mexico. I’d do it in a heartbeat.
If you cared at all for "your daughters," you selfish, lying, cheating, piece of shi#, you'd take them with you, like most parents would, idiot!!!
Quit threatening us or even "work permits" will never be part of the mix for him or any other illegal alien, especially one who has been here that long sucking all of our tax dollars, then demanding citizenship!!!
I saw that they will deport illegal gang members in LA. NNow, that’s progress.
“If they kick me out, who is going to take care of my daughters? The government? I don’t think so,” he said. “We need full legalization and need it now.”
You should have though about that b/4 you entered the country illegally.
And, if you leave without your children I’m sure foster care will take care of them while you go back to your country and come through with the dignity and honor as a “legal” immigrant.
Oh silly me, that’s WAY too much to ask:)
“Thousands of people marched through downtown on Saturday, demanding a way for the country’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to become citizens and condemning President Bush’s latest proposal. Carrying signs saying “Amnesty Now”
So these people are what....supportive of the Bush plan?
sown
Because it is.
Average Americans have been sold down the river.
BS:
One three year permit, no money sent 'home' to mexico, then back south with an extra $7,200 in pocket and she'd only have to come up with the initial $3.5 and $2.8 three years later.
HINT: keep the old pick up truck, save a total of $80.00 a month additional, plus bus fare, and you're in business.
HINT: since you're not buying vehicle insurance anyway - put the money to work for you.
HINT: let the folks back in mexico handle the bribes and kickbacks as down payment for the money you'll be sending back to them four years down the road.
OR:
She could just sell the rancho she's paying off with the $200.00 a month today - unless she's buying American citizenship for part time use.
CLUE: I've met several who are doing just that, the money 'home' is going to a very nice retirement villa. When the politicians 'rationalize' cross border Social security, they'll have an address to send the checks to.
Crime figures don't lie, though illegal immigrant sympathizers cry that immigrants seldom report crimes as they fear police more than the criminals.
Now when it comes to live shoot outs on the streets, during the day, police are hard pressed NOT to notice, though, in areas that are sacrosanct "santuary cities" only now, are they permitted to ask those sticky questions of "national origin" and "legal status" even in Spanish!
...illegal immigrants are angry... Has the world gone crazy?
So GWB has kissed up to the hispanics and favorable toward the illegals and yet this group kicks him to the curb.
Plus they lean heavily Dem...they will turn this nation into a leftist socialist state.... screw em all....
bump
“they will turn this nation into a leftist socialist state”
This is precisely why they have been allowed to enter and stay in this country. And both sides after their votes. Who needs us?
I just heard a news report this morning about ICE detaining 80 illegal aliens for deportation back to Mexico...
And they missed some 15,000 in LA? I think that somebody’s got their priorities mixed up...
Mark
.............................”If they kick me out, who is going to take care of my daughters? The government? I don’t think so,” he said. “We need full legalization and need it now.”
........................................................................................................................................................................................
This is what saddens me about this entire problem of illegal immigrants. The Mexican government has no compassion for their citizens and their offspring. So the illegals beg and scream and demand that the U.S. provide them what their own government does not.
The U.S. and the Mexican government need to work together and to help resolve this. I hear nothing in Congress about what the Mexican government can do. There seems to be no pressure on the Mexican government.
Any group of people that are here illegally and demand their "rights" is not a group to depend on for support.
You and I can see that, but not our tin eared politicians.
The GOP and the President have lost the support of many Americans over this issue. Few are saying that, but it is true.
Explain to the man on the street why he should send his kids to "die for America" in Iraq, while our government is pondering giving away "free American citizenship" to any and all takers.
You will have a difficult time convincing him that this makes a whole lot of sense.
Because it doesn't.
That's what happens when you don't want to piss anyone off, you end up pissing everyone off.
I swear I must be in the twilight zone. I just read the oldie but goodie standard about the fear of backlash in VA about the drunk illegal alien that killed those kids and now this.
How did their privileges (loose use of the word) become rights anyway?
A Republic. If you can keep it.
- Ben Franklin
Or, as I heard one talk radio call-in say recently, "Send them a copy of the Constitution, and send in the FBI."
Bust their corrupt @$$es down. MAKE them take care of their own.
There's no excuse for this crap. Mexico has plenty of hard workers, plenty of natural resources.
No excuse, you idiot politicians.
ILLEGALS!!! They make DEMANDS and they're not even citizens. My God, it's MOB RULE!God only knows what they'll be DEMANDING when they are made citizens. The other thing that really chaps my butt is that they want to bring their Mexican culture to America. IF I want a Mexican culture I will go to Mexico. Heck, I could just go to LA now, but since violent criminals aren't who I want to associate with, I'll stay away from that trash!
Bush is a fool and so is EVERY Republican who votes for shamnesty. ILLEGALS HATE Republicans and they are ALL GOING TO VOTE FOR THE DEMON_RATS! I DETEST Bush and those idiots who are in the process of destroying America. The only justice will be when the Mexicans do their reconquista and run their own candidates and ALL the RATS and RINOS who supported shamnesty lose their jobs!
SHEEP:
It is called the SECOND GREAT SOCIETY. You will pay and pay and pay and get spit on as a racist for wanting to know where your tax dollars are going. No road improvements, no fire safety and police protection from gangs...and that is for a start. The true pain is we will have to listen to the new generation of FREEDOM FIGHTERS, CIVIL ACTIVISTS who will shake down American Corporations and private citizens who just want the rule of law in America and a fair value for their tax dollars. So do not bahhhhhhh SHEEP. Action.
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