North (San Diego) County Times: Immigrant activists plan march on D.C.

[question everything]

Last modified Monday, January 16, 2006 9:21 PM PST

Immigrant activists plan march on D.C.

By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer
North County Times

A coalition of organizations that defend the rights of undocumented immigrants will caravan from San Diego to Washington, D.C., next month in an effort to pressure members of Congress into voting down a controversial immigration bill, a spokesman for the group said Monday.

Approved by the House of Representatives in late December, the bill focuses primarily on strengthening the nation's borders and cracking down on illegal immigration. It has been heavily criticized by some human rights organizations and some elected officials, however, for its failure to include a guest-worker program that would allow foreign laborers to stay in the United States for a limited amount of time.

Many conservative politicians, meanwhile, have praised the bill, saying that before the federal government considers a guest-worker program, it must first get serious about stopping illegal immigrants from entering and working in the United States. "We must boldly address the challenges of border security first," Senate Majority leader Bill Frist said of the bill in December.

The immigrant rights group, Gente Unida or People United, also hopes its "National March for Migrants" caravan will draw attention to the dangers at the border where 460 immigrants died last year trying to cross into the United States, group spokesman Enrique Morones said Monday. In addition, group officials hope to raise awareness of what they say are an increasing number of human rights abuses of immigrants at the border and in communities across the country, he added.

(snip)

Contact staff writer William Finn Bennett at [phone], or [e-mail]. To comment, visit www.nctimes.com.


http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/17/news/top_stories/11606192913.txt

[High Plains]

1. Good. That bill needs to be defeated.

Who wants to deal with immigration by building a 700-mile Iron Curtain?

[Common Sense Party]

2. A lot of people, apparently. Especially, but not only, in border

states. We have to do something to stem the tide of illegal immigration.

We need to make LEGAL immigration easier and faster, no question, but the American people WANT illegal immigration STOPPED.

The party that can seize this issue and propose workable, effective solutions will do very well among a huge segment of the mainstream population.

[Bridget Burke]

3. The plan does NOTHING to make legal immigration easier.

Please, tell us about the "mainstream" population.

[Common Sense Party]

4. You are taking a keen interest in my posts. I'm flattered.

You're right. This plan does NOTHING to improve legal immigration.

Nor did I say that it did.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Hey, I'm trying to stay in touch with the "mainstream"

I'm sure we Democrats have much to learn from the Voice of the Heartland.