Seriously, if a wall won't work why are the illegals against it?
Latinos discuss rights at Riverside immigration summitProposals in Costa Mesa and D.C. criticized in Riverside.February 12, 2006
COURTNEY PERKES
The Orange County Register
www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/abox/article_995915.phpRIVERSIDE – About 400 Latinos concerned about the rights of immigrants who enter the country illegally to work met Saturday in Riverside to fight plans for increased enforcement from Washington and Costa Mesa.
The Mexicano/Latino Leadership Immigration Summit focused mostly on legislation approved in the House of Representatives that would build a fence along parts of the Mexican border."We're not terrorists, just hardworking people trying to make a living," said speaker Hector Preciado of the Greenlining Institute, a Northern California public policy and advocacy group.
Participants also mentioned Costa Mesa's decision to allow police to enforce some federal immigration laws and seek deportation of felony suspects. The Orange County Sheriff's Department is working on a similar proposal.
Zeke Hernandez of the Santa Ana chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens asked for support of an April 1 demonstration in front of City Hall.
"Take a look at what's happening in Orange County - the birthplace of Save Our State (Prop. 187) and the Minutemen," Hernandez said.
Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor said he questioned why leaders of the upcoming protest don't want laws enforced.
"There's been tremendous support across the board from people of many different nationalities," he said.
Felipe Aguirre, a City Council member from Maywood, said his city has passed an ordinance saying it will defy the federal government if cities are ordered to enforce immigration laws.
"If Costa Mesa can be an anti-immigrant city, we're going to say Maywood is a pro-immigrant city," Aguirre said to applause.
The conference was organized by the National Alliance for Human Rights.