CITIZENS are getting so fed up that they are PROTESTING ILLEGALS

Protesters target session for Mexican immigants
By Jim Feehan
The Register-Guard
February 12, 2006
www.registerguard.com/news/2006/02/12/c1.cr.immigration.0212.p1.php?section=cityregion
Anti-immigration activists rallied Saturday in Eugene to oppose providing state social services to noncitizens and to criticize the Mexican consulate for issuing identification cards to immigrants.

The protest coincided with the presence of Mexican government representatives who were at the High School Equivalency Program building on the University of Oregon campus to assist people seeking a matricula consular - Mexico's identification card. The card is used to open bank accounts and to obtain a driver's license.

Spanish-speaking representatives from several state agencies joined Mexican officials to offer information about health care, food stamps, wage and hour provisions and other state services.

Police lined the building one block east of Hayward Field with yellow tape and barricades to ensure access for program participants.

Five officers kept watch over the 40 protesters.

"I don't think it's right for people to come here and step in front of line," said Daniel Miglavs of Sherwood, a spokesman for Oregonians for Immigration Reform. The group, based in McMinnville, formed six years ago to call attention to the economic, social and environmental costs of uncontrolled immigration.

But Angel Lopez, legal adviser for the Mexican consular, said he felt the protesters were interfering with the legitimate business affairs of a foreign government. He said the event deserved tighter security by federal marshals to ensure order.

Lopez said protesters were intimidating applicants by filming them as they entered and left the building.

"Their goal is to have a chilling effect so that nobody shows up," Lopez said. "(The protesters) message is: `We are better than you.' To discriminate is unfortunate and doesn't show the best of Oregon by any stretch of the imagination."

Several of the protesters arrived from around the state in sport utility vehicles and trucks adorned with Republican candidate bumper stickers.

"For the GOP, this has become a campaign issue and we want this to be an issue," said Miglavs, who works for a wholesale and distribution company.

Miglavs said his group faces an uphill battle against business and farm groups seeking a steady flow of low-cost immigrant labor.

The group intends to keep the issue on the front burner during the gubernatorial race, he said.

"We want to bring publicity to this issue and force criminal aliens to take the walk of shame," Miglavs said, referring to defendants walking to an arraignment in handcuffs.

In addition to carrying placards that read, "No borders no country," "Illegal immigration is a crime" and "Kulongoski fails Oregon here," protesters also filmed the proceedings to see if any participants are on the FBI Most Wanted List, or if any have outstanding arrest warrants, said Rick Hickey of Salem, who serves as vice president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform.

"We can't allow everyone to come into this country. We can't have this melting pot turned into a chamber pot allowing in a criminal element," he said. "Why do they need government services?"

Hickey said the state should not be extending services to illegal immigrants when the Oregon Department of Human Services has a $172 million budget deficit.

Hickey said he resents opponents characterizing him as a racist.

"We're not against immigrants," he said. "We're against illegal immigrants."

Antonio Guzman of Salem said several Latinos came by to register for basic services. While he disagreed with the anti-immigration faction, Guzman said they have a right to express their opinions. "We are all Americans and we support our community," he said.

It's about time people starting bitching. Mexican reps on American soil actively helping illegals makes my head hurt.

It seems like I have been seeing about one protest a week, ice should be showing up too

It's about time.  We need more people to be angry about this.  Come here legally, fantastic welcome to the greatest nation on earth.  Come here ilegally, and here is the boot in your ass kicking out.  Bill that nations government for sending them back too.
And fuck mexico and their damn whining.  Giving maps to water points and to easy to cross areas.
We should call in their debt.   Oil would be an acceptable form of payment.

But Angel Lopez, legal adviser for the Mexican consular, said he felt the protesters were interfering with the legitimate business affairs of a foreign government. He said the event deserved tighter security by federal marshals to ensure order.

this guy would be right, if this happened in Mehico. Since it happened on US soil, it is not an affair of a foreign .gov and he can kiss my ass. I find it sickening that our politicians allow this shit to happen. Hopefully more people speak up about it

Anti-immigration activists...

It's great when you can pick up the whole lean of an article from the first two words.

I'm disappointed only 40 protestors showed up. Should have been 4,000.