Plan to creat Calif. border police draws 1,000 in protest

[Mandi]

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Dueling demonstrations over a plan to create state border police drew nearly 1,000 people to Sacramento on Saturday, and about two dozen police officers, some on horseback, stood between the rival gatherings to maintain order.

Authorities reported three arrests during the two-hour standoff, which illustrated California's growing divide over how best to secure its border with Mexico.

A proposed ballot initiative by Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta, to create a state immigration police force was the reason for the rallies, but the role that volunteer citizen patrols known as "Minutemen" play on the Mexico-U.S. border also prompted debate.

A San Diego-based group announced last month that it had taken border patrols into its own hands to stop illegal immigrants and drug smugglers form entering California.

"We have a major problem on the border with the illegals," said Robin Gable, 50 of Sacramento, who was one of about 300 who came to hear speeches from politicians and others urging voters to sign ballot petitions. "I'm here to support the Minutemen and our border patrols. You have terrorists, there's drugs coming across. Something has to be done about it."

Not far away on the sidewalk stood Tomas Alejo, 30, of Watsonville, Calif., who was part of a counterprotest of about 700 people.

"Our people should be treated with dignity and respect," he said. "We don't believe that people should be dogged if they are from one side of the border or the other. We denounce what the Minutemen are all about."

Haynes said he hopes his initiative qualifies for the 2006 ballot. The border police force would be charged specifically with enforcing federal immigration laws.

Peter Camejo, an independent vice presidential candidate in 2004, led the counter-protest. He said the effort to seal off the borders is wrong, and that those coming across the border are needed for the American economy.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-10-30-california-immigration_x.htm

 

[Mandi]

It appears that i'm not the only person who wants the border closed...

 

[The Question]

"Our people should be treated with dignity and respect," he said. "We don't believe that people should be dogged if they are from one side of the border or the other. We denounce what the Minutemen are all about."

Of course he does -- the Minutemen are all about preserving and protecting the sovereignty and security of this country, and even the Mexican government refuses to acknowledge either.

Peter Camejo, an independent vice presidential candidate in 2004, led the counter-protest. He said the effort to seal off the borders is wrong, and that those coming across the border are needed for the American economy.

I think he already knows that illegals hurt local economies, instead of helping them. But maybe the "economy" he thinks they're helping is Mexico's, and if that's the case, then he's right -- illegal occupation of the United States is, if I recall correctly, Mexico's third largest industry.

 

[Captain Jack]

I agree with you, Miranda, and The Question.

 

[YeahSoWhat]

"Our people should be treated with dignity and respect," he said. "We don't believe that people should be dogged if they are from one side of the border or the other. We denounce what the Minutemen are all about."

Yeah well let Paco pay for them then. Always pisses me off when people demand respect and dignity for people who ILLEGALLY cross the border into the USA, then expect us to roll out the Welcome mat AND pay a shitload of taxpayer money supporting their criminal behavior. So Tomas Alejo, here's what I think of your demands :gagh:

 

[Caitriona]

I think most people who refer to the 'harming of the economy' are actually making reference to the harm to the business sector. They can get away with paying cheaper wages to illegals and even green carded aliens.

If the flow of workers was stopped, then those jobs would then require more money to fill. It's not necessarily a good argument, but business would suffer additional costs, thereby limiting profits. That cost gets passed on to the consumers, and so on and so on..

Course the drain these workers have on public services etc far outweighs the cost to business IMHO.