Posted on 10/10/2002 1:48:35 AM PDT by sarcasm
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of undocumented immigrants from across the United States rallied near the White House on Wednesday to demand legalization of their status.
Carrying signs bearing slogans such as "Yes, We Can," "Recognize our Work" and "Legalization Today," nearly 1,000 immigrants and union leaders gathered in Washington's Freedom Plaza to ask Congress and the administration for amnesty.
Leaders of the immigrant groups, made up mostly of Hispanics, symbolically presented to House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) one million signatures collected from 40 states demanding legalization for undocumented immigrants. They also plan to present copies to the White House.
Gephardt said he will introduce a bill in the House on Thursday to legalize undocumented immigrants.
The House minority leader vowed to fight for the bill's approval along with his party, although he warned that attempts to liberalize immigration laws face a difficult time in Congress in the current political climate.
All the initiatives favoring undocumented immigrants in Congress were shelved as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
While the White House keeps us preoccupied with the threat of Saddam, closing the borders and sending home illegals is not even an issue. I'm really uncomfortable about this issue not being part of the dialogue for the upcoming elections.
The priorities for Homeland Security are out of order. First, our government needs to stop the influx of people and acclimate and prepare for productive contributions those who can't legally be sent home. What good is it to overthrow any dictator if all the loons in the world can just walk across the border? This country has enough homegrown lunatics to worry about.
Those "necessary" temporary workers? Let employers try a little harder to find US citizens to do the work. Of course, it might mean more money going to workers and less going to CEOs...that works.
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them Mess-cuns rollin'
Rawhide!
Worth repeating, loudly.
Once they're legal they'd be in the same spot US citizens are ---they'd qualify for many welfare programs and their employers would be required to pay them minimum wage but would instead replace them with new illegals.
Demanding, What the hell is going on in this country, arrest the SOB's!
Those very actions would gather the necessary media "outrage" to focus the publics attention on this issue.
Considering that George "RINO" Bush wants to give them amnesty also, I think their chances are good. It's just a matter of time before Congress forgets about 9/11, and approves George's promise to Fox.
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