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Immigrant advocates hold press conference
By: BRENDA DURAN - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO ---- As House Republicans held hearings to promote a proposed immigration crackdown, activists for immigrants' rights gathered in a separate meeting Wednesday to call for more comprehensive reforms.
In a presentation called "The True Economic Impact of Undocumented Workers," four speakers representing commercial, civic and governmental organizations called the hearings held by the House Republicans at the Marine Corps Depot in San Diego on Wednesday "publicity stunts."
"These are sham hearings meant to inflame the argument over immigration reform," said Melissa Daar, director for People for the American Way, who moderated the panel that met at the Courtyard Marriott in Old Town.
The congressional hearing was the second of three planned in the San Diego area by GOP members of Congress, who are trying to drum up support for a bill that would tighten immigration restrictions and make it a felony to live and work in the U.S. illegally.
Immigrant rights activists who oppose the House bill called a press conference in Old Town in response to the hearing, which was held at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot downtown.
The panelists at the Marriott said they wanted to highlight the economic contributions of undocumented workers and to support a Senate immigration bill that would create a guest worker program and help legalize millions of illegal immigrants.
The four panelists who spoke at the counter-event included Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers; David Rodriguez, national vice president of the Far West region of the League of United Latino American Citizens or LULAC; state Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, and Cesar Aguilera, who owns a construction company San Diego.
Ducheny said undocumented workers in agriculture and other labor industries need to have easier access to citizenship because they contribute millions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy.
"They never want to talk about what people are contributing to the economy," said Ducheny, referring to those participating in the House hearings. "These people are an important part of the economy; to not recognize that is to put on blinders."
At the House hearings, panelists argued illegal immigration costs taxpayers $1 billion each year in services in Los Angeles alone.
But undocumented workers contribute to the economy, too, said construction company owner Cesar Aguilera. The removal of undocumented workers would harm the construction industry by hiking prices by 25 percent and would slow down one of the most profitable businesses in the country, he said.
Huerta said she believes the heated debate on immigration is a way for politicians to distract the public from the war in Iraq and to boost the private prison industrial complex. She also called the attempts to pass the more rigid version of the House bill, which would have made felons of more than 11 million undocumented workers, a way for politicians to start an "ethnic cleansing."
Supporters of the bill, including local Congressmen Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad and Darrell Issa, R-Temecula, have said the proposed crackdown would help stem the costs of illegal immigration and that allowing undocumented workers to become legal would reward those who have broken U.S. immigration laws.
Panelist Rodriguez said the latest hearings not only have created an "anti-immigrant sentiment" in the country but have also unfairly targeted Latinos.
"The Statue of Liberty says, give me your hungry and poor, but not if you are Latino," said Rodriguez. "Our economy needs these people. ... Without them, a lot of industries would fall apart."
Contact staff writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@californian.com. To comment on this article, go to californian.com.
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? wrote on Aug 3, 2006 5:37 AM:Sanity vs. insanity'; right vs. wrong; legal vs. illegal. The debate rages on but I don't understand why. No, maybe I do. It's poliical expediency vs. plain dirt morality. It always boils down to the same thing, follow the money. Money fuels politics and there is no law that trumps monetary interests. It will never change.
Fourth wrote on Aug 3, 2006 5:38 AM:Supporters of the House Bill outline the cost of illegal aliens to the citizen of the United States of America. Where are the statistics from this side? The housing market has been partially fueled by prices lower than they should be because illegals are doing some of the work that, by rights, should be done by citizens. In effect, you are saying our housing market has been undercut by 25% due to use of illegal alien laborers.
? wrote on Aug 3, 2006 5:51 AM:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and illegal activity always go hand in hand. Why do we waste our time with the debate? There is nothing more powerful than money. To the conqueror belong the spoils. I apologize to anyone who I may have offended with my comments, or not. I hope to not offend anyone when I suggest that illegal activity creates prosperity for those who choose to get while the getting is good. Kumbaya.
carlos mackey wrote on Aug 3, 2006 2:37 PM: Illegal aliens comprise only 14% of the construction workforce and their impact on the cost of homes is minimal. Also,the price of housing is set by the market and is not affected by the cost of labor.Only the profits of the contractor is affected. The cost of housing is affected by the demand for housing for illegal aliens;supply and demand. Send them home and rent will plummet.
Question wrote on Aug 3, 2006 2:59 PM:How come the immigrant advoctaes always try to hid the fact that we have an undisclosed number of terrorist on US soil. We need to close the borders and deport ALL illegals aliens, be they French, Russian, Iranian or Mexican. It makes me wonder if these advocates have something else in mind for the American people than pushing for immigrant rights?
Gordo wrote on Aug 3, 2006 7:32 PM:"Activists for Immigrants Rights?". I am a legal immigrant, what rights are they gaining for me? It is "rights for illegal immigrants" they are after. No subtle misswording will make the problems go away. Huerta calls it "ethnic cleansing", what a joke. The only thing ethnic about it is the majority of the illegals are from the same culture/ethnicity. It is a result, not a cause or reason. Morons.
Skip wrote on Aug 3, 2006 8:42 PM:I wish all of the Illegal Aliens were caucasion. I would still be against them, and I would still be advocating to secure our borders. You see to me it is controlling our exploding population, and protecting our limited resources. India has only Indians, and China has only Chinese, but they are still grossly overpopulated. The U.S. is catching up. If all the illegal Aliens were caucasion, then the silly "Race Card" could not be used
Skip wrote on Aug 3, 2006 8:45 PM:From what I am reading, and hearing on the radio this week : 70% of all babies born in San Diego hospitals, are born to Illegal Alien mothers, and at California taxpayer expense. The same thing is happening in Dallas Texas. And our governor calls this prejudice.....
Daren wrote on Aug 3, 2006 9:13 PM:The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants.....as long as they are legal. Sneaking over, under and around fences is not the legal way to enter this country.
Terrorist wrote on Aug 4, 2006 8:25 AM:LOL I am hearing all over the radio and television, DEATH TO AMERICANS!! I wonder how many are here now, waiting....
Population explosion wrote on Aug 4, 2006 12:29 PM:Read the latest statistics of population growth in SD county. The FACT is that our county's population IS NOT increasing, it is holding steady. Legals or illegals are NOT coming in droves, that's the fact jack. So don't panick.
Patrick wrote on Aug 4, 2006 1:25 PM:PROSECUTE US EMPLOYERS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS NOW!
Robert wrote on Aug 4, 2006 8:41 PM:I for one am tired of this issue and baiting that this is immigration reform, we dont need new immigration laws, thousands each year comply with our existing laws and join our nation. I welcome them and wish them well. I do not and will never welcome illegal aliens. This invasion must stop now. Come in legally or get out! We dont need any new laws to end this mess all we need is tamperproof ID cards and to place strong penalties on employers of these criminals. Only closing the reason for the invasion can we end the invasion. Its not surprising that the liberals and ACLU are roadblocking tamperproof ID cards. I would ask why? The adverse economic effect of this invasion is obvious to us all and has been for 20 years!! THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE TO DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND. THIS MUST STOP HERE AND NOW!
Danny wrote on Aug 4, 2006 10:03 PM:I am a contractor with 4 American workers. After trying very hard to make them dig out a tree trunk where a machine couldn't reach, I gave up. I went to Home Depot and pick up two Mexicans who were willing to do the work. They did it in 4 hours, while these LAZY Americans were watching. These immigrants are not taking your jobs. They are doing what you are too lazy to do. Get a life and let them come and help.
Miguel wrote on Aug 5, 2006 8:11 AM:to Population explosion...San Diego County Office of Education, countywide, from 2000 to 2005, K-12 enrollment, up 18,000 students. Minority student population, up 103,000. Free/reduced lunches, up 57,000. These numbers are public records (facts), where did yours come from? Don't panic, the truth is coming. www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/pdf/anrep.pdf
Carolyn wrote on Aug 5, 2006 2:22 PM:I submit the racist are the immigrants themselves and all their organized advocacy groups. I work at a public hlth. dept. with hispanic directors in various depts. The WIC director is very adamant that "her" people will receive services first, to the exclusion of any other group if need be. Most of the Latino owned businesses in my city are very native citizen unfriendly. It is obvious you are not welcome, even if you wanted to buy from them. They brought their prejudices here with them, and that has not changed. They only want American dollars, not American values or allegiances. They want respect but are not inclined to give it to others. Many of them are arrogant and feel entitled to whatever this country offers to its citizens, and will scream racism if they don't get it. These attitudes, coupled with the sheer numbers of illegals now in this country, is creating hostility in American citizens. Our borders MUST be sealed, and law enforcement in the interior states must be given the authority to arrest and hold for swift and sure deportation those illegals they encounter during their routine daily patrols.
Alfonso wrote on Aug 5, 2006 6:37 PM:I agree with Carolyn's race comments and wish she could have testified at the House meetings. Thanks Carolyn.
tom wrote on Aug 13, 2006 2:35 PM:this is for big bisnuss to gain more profite from cheap labor modern day slavery
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