Rally Pushes Immigrant Rights (with NM Gov. Richardson)

The Albuquerque Journal (subscription required) ^ | Friday, September 26, 2003 | Debra Dominguez

[CedarDave]

Friday, September 26, 2003

Rally Pushes Immigrant Rights

By Debra Dominguez

Journal Staff Writer

    Before a sea of picketing immigrants, Gov. Bill Richardson took the stage Thursday at De Vargas Park in Santa Fe. The occasion was an Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride Rally, and Richardson wasted no time showing his support for the hundreds of immigrant workers before him.
    "Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here."
    The rally was part of a national campaign to mobilize support for reform of the country's immigration policies, including legalizing the more than 8 million undocumented immigrant workers in the United States.
    The Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride stop was one of 70 the nearly 1,000 immigrant workers and their ally organization members are making by bus on their way to New York and, ultimately, Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress. The ride originated in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nev.
    In collaboration with more than 30 local community and labor organizations that advocate for immigrant worker rights, the band of immigrants spent the entire day educating New Mexicans and recruiting potential supporters.
    The group began its day at sunrise with breakfast, mariachis and Aztec dancers at Albuquerque's St. Frances Xavier Church before heading to Santa Fe.
    There, the workers gathered to hear Richardson address their concerns, as well as elaborate on his.
    The governor said he supports the use of the Mexican government-issued identification card, the Matricula Consular, by immigrants in the United States.
    He said he thinks the federal government should not question the validity of the card. Richardson also said he would be chairing a commission of Western governors to find a way for immigrant workers to obtain in-state tuition.
    "America needs to open its arms to immigrants as we did in the early years of our history," he said.
    "We also need to stop the exploitation of immigrant workers in this country."
    Rally organizer Marcela Diaz, executive director of the Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unidos, said the rally's purpose was to send a message to elected officials and policymakers it's time for change.
    "We want immigrant workers to be able to bring their families to the United States and to be able to organize for better workplace conditions and the protection of civil rights and liberties for everyone, regardless of national origin," she said.
    Asela Martinez of Las Vegas, Nev., was one of the many immigrant workers asking for reform.
    "Immigrant workers aren't being treated fairly," said Martinez, who works in housekeeping at a Las Vegas hotel. "Legal or not, many of us work hard, pay taxes, earn no Social Security and reap no medical benefits. That's just wrong."

Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal

[CedarDave]

I seethe with anger when I read something like this. We Americans who have spent our lifetimes working hard and putting blood, sweat and tears into making this country great are being marginalized by those immigrants, especially illegals, who come across the border to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We are taxed to pay for their health care, education, welfare costs, etc. and we are the ones who are made to feel inferior because they are not required to learn our language. And the Rats, employing their usual big goverenment tactics, are promising them all sorts of additional freebies to get them to support their party and their socialistic programs. Of course, those living close to the actual border have to put up with additional problems, including actual threats to life and property from the hoards who cross the very porous border daily.

[truthkeeper]

Obviously California is not the only state that is going mad.

[steplock]

Arrest the Traitorous S.O.B.

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

Encouraging and Harboring Illegal Aliens

It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any alien who is in the United States in violation of law. HARBORING MEANS ANY CONDUCT THAT TENDS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FACILITATE AN ALIEN TO REMAIN IN THE U.S. ILLEGALLY. The sheltering need not be clandestine, and harboring covers aliens arrested outdoors, as well as in a building. This provision includes harboring an alien who entered the U.S. legally but has since lost his legal status.

[truthkeeper]

And BTW, it's not only the d**n RATS allowing this to happen.

[CedarDave]

True enough. Last time I looked, the President and those in charge of both houses of Congress have a (R) after their names.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here.

sickening

[Argus]

It is infuriating, especially the shameless abuse of the legitimate term "immigrant". These people are not immigrants, they are criminal invaders. Public officials who aid and abet them are criminals and traitors themselves.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Paulus Invictus]

Richardson is the failed clintionoid who offered Monica a job at the UN, remember? The guy was an idiot then and still is. How did he get elected Gov in NM? Oh, I know. The state is populated with leftist welfare dolts.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

BTTT

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Viva la Raza?

Screw you, Richardson.

[GOP_1900AD]

The INS should ask every one of these "Freedom Riders" to show their green cards or US passports. Immediately arrest all illegals and deport them immediately.

[cousin01]

Seems like the left always finds someone to file a lawsuit to enforce laws and regulations favorable to their causes.

Can't we find an organization to bring suit against the govenrment to force them to enforce the laws?

[VU4G10]

lalalalala

[gubamyster]

ping

[monkeywrench]

The left would find a way to bring suit if it fit their purposes. (Using tax payer money, I believe). The right never seems to sue.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The danger of all this is lawlessness begets lawlessness. At some point the law (in general) will mean nothing to either side of this fight and then it's going to be out of control and uglier and meaner than anything we have ever experienced in this country.

[usadave]

"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he (Richardson) shouted, acknowledging their quest for equality and human rights for the nation's immigrant work force. "Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here."

Richardson is just looking out for his fellow Latinos, regardless of whether or not they are in the United States legally. A Latino-American politician helping his fellow Latinos - be prepared to see more and more of this in the future.

[DumpsterDiver]

The danger of all this is lawlessness begets lawlessness. At some point the law (in general) will mean nothing to either side of this fight and then it's going to be out of control and uglier and meaner than anything we have ever experienced in this country.

The following quote seems to accurately reflect our government's policy decision concerning this:

"Viva la raza! Vivan los inmigrantes! Bienvenidos inmigrantes!" he shouted.

How many times do some Americans have to be given the bird before they realize that they've been flipped off? (I have no answer for that.)