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Group Plans Protest at San Antonio Day Labor Pick-up Site
woai.com ^ | 01/15/08 | Jim Forsyth

Posted on 01/15/2008 7:38:41 AM PST by Froufrou

A citizens group which draws attention to illegal immigration says it plans to begin a series of demonstrations at a popular day labor pick up site just west of downtown San Antonio this weekend, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Curtis Connor, president of the group U.S. Border Watch, says Saturday’s protest at the day labor site on West Houston Street in Cattlemen's Square, which has been an officially designated place where people who want day labor can gather for several decades, is part of a campaign to spread awareness of illegal immigration.

"Consistently, more than 95% of people who work out of these types of sites are undocumented workers," Connor said.

US Border Watch was responsible for organizing a large demonstration at the north side office of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton last summer. Sutton is a target of criticism from border security groups for his prosecution of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents in west Texas. The two jailed agents are seen as martyrs to what many feel is the Bush Administration’s unwillingness to enforce immigration laws.

Connor says the group will attempt to 'shame' any workers who show up to hire illegal immigrants for any type of job.

"We'll be using video cameras and hidden cameras to determine how many people there are basically illegal," he said, adding that 'undercover operations' and 'surveillance' at the Cattlemen's Square location has already begun.

Connor says the public and people hiring illegals will be the focus of their protests starting this Saturday.

"We will notify employers who are hiring that some of the day labor sites that it is there responsibility to make sure that people they are hiring are properly documented," he said.

Connor says the group understands the plight of illegal immigrants, and supports legislation to make it easier for people from Latin America to immigrate legally into the U.S. He says frustration over the 10 to 15 year wait a person has to endure before being granted legal status is what prompts many of the illegals to break the law to come to the U.S. and work.

He says he anticipates counter protests when his group arrives in San Antonio this weekend. But he says most Americans agree with U.S. Border Watch's position that it should be easier for needed workers to come to the U.S. legally, but there is no excuse for breaking existing laws.

He says he will 'work closely with' San Antonio police and expects no problems to occur. He adds he would like to see day labor pick up points, like the one at Cattleman’s Square, shut down permanently.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: immigration

1 posted on 01/15/2008 7:38:44 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: SwinneySwitch

Ping!


2 posted on 01/15/2008 7:39:18 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: Froufrou

My husband insisted on picking up some guys from there one time-— scariest looking people I ever saw. Lots of tattoos. I have reason to believe they took some of my jewelry out of a bureau. We were moving from one house to another. I said never again.


3 posted on 01/15/2008 8:10:32 AM PST by squarebarb
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To: squarebarb

I don’t doubt for a moment that you’re right. I have long been a believer in the marriage of the drug cartels with terrorists. Your laborers may very well have been MS-13.


4 posted on 01/15/2008 8:13:59 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: squarebarb

So if you didn’t suspect them of stealing from you you would be cool with it?


5 posted on 01/15/2008 8:14:38 AM PST by stevio ((NRA))
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To: Media Cat; muggs; pinkpanther111; Jaded; Tigen; flattorney; bigjoesaddle; FryingPan101; ...

US Border Watch is everywhere!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.


6 posted on 01/15/2008 8:31:25 AM PST by SwinneySwitch (US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
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To: squarebarb

Even the girls have tattoos in South Texas, squarebarb.


7 posted on 01/15/2008 8:37:15 AM PST by SwinneySwitch (US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
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To: SwinneySwitch; squarebarb; stevio

True enough, tats are a fashion statement. But if you see the teardrop tats, they are said to be added for each life taken, one by one.

Kind of like the Dixie Chicks adding a chicken foot for each concert or record they make or some such malarky...


8 posted on 01/15/2008 8:49:11 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: Froufrou

that’s correct. These were home-made tattoos, spiderwebs and the teardrop and other crude things on knuckles. Prison tattoos.


9 posted on 01/15/2008 9:30:49 AM PST by squarebarb
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To: squarebarb

If it makes you feel any better, I hired a homeless kid (knew his mother) to help me out on some work at an individual’s private home. That little sucker stole several items from those people.

It’s hard to find good help....fo sure!


10 posted on 01/15/2008 11:45:39 AM PST by wolfcreek (The Status Quo Sucks!)
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To: Froufrou
"...he would like to see day labor pick up points, like the one at Cattleman’s Square, shut down permanently."

Close this one down and they'll go somewhere else. That day labor place has been open since probably the 1940's. Foremen were picking up illegals back then too. This is nothing new. The San Antonio construction industry would come to a grinding halt if they stopped illegal day laborers. La Migra has always known about this place. They've raided it before. More often than not they leave it alone.

One thing is for sure. Bridge or no bridge, Migra or no Migra, whatever, they will keep coming until they can make more money working in Mexico than they can make here. Every illegal I've ever known doesn't like being up here. They would much rather be home. But the money is here so they come.

11 posted on 01/16/2008 7:52:57 PM PST by DaGman
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To: DaGman

“The San Antonio construction industry would come to a grinding halt if they stopped illegal day laborers.”

You said a mouthful. I once asked an illegal man where he was working. He was in my office to get his food stamps. He could barely write, and certainly could not read, but he wrote this word: “Pulte.”


12 posted on 01/17/2008 5:23:25 AM PST by Froufrou
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