300,000+ Chicago Protestors Rally Against Immigration Bill

Images courtesy CBS

On Friday large crowds estimated by organizers of up to a half million rallied in protest against HR 4437– The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. While supporters of the bill claim it will increase the security of US borders, many immigrants claim it to be a blatant violation of their rights. Among other provisions of the bill, it would make it a crime to hire or even help undocumented immigrants.



Well, I for one am in support of this bill. With terrorist threats looming, and our borders needing added protection, a bill like this was a must at this point in US history. Illegal immigration has cost many americans their jobs, and damaged this economy in many ways.

I think to this point, the United States has been relatively tolerant of the illegal immigration problem, and especially those from Mexico. Arrests and deportations had largely been symbolic, but the absolutely staggering number of illegal Mexicans here, estimated as high as 25 million, are numbers that this system just cannot handle any longer unchecked.

While illegals here can argue all they want about violations of their rights, the fact of the matter still stands: They are here ILLEGALLY- that means AGAINST THE LAW. Y para ustedes que no hablan mucho ingles, eso quiere decir contra la leyes.

More about this bill here in detail:
H.R.4437

Key points:
Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) take all appropriate actions, including development of a national border strategy, to maintain operational control over the U.S. international land and maritime borders; (2) report on cross-border security agreements with Mexico and Canada; (3) provide for biometric data enhancements; (4) report on the One Face at the Border Initiative; (5) increase port of entry inspection personnel and canine detection teams; (6) report on the airspace security mission's impact on the National Capital Region; (7) reimburse private owners along the border for certain property damage; (8) establish at least one Border Patrol unit for the Virgin Islands; (9) report on Central American gang travel across the U.S.-Mexico border; and (10) deploy radiation portal monitors at U.S. ports of entry to screen inbound cargo for nuclear and radiological material.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) with respect to alien smuggling and illegal entry and presence to: (1) revise the definition of aggravated felony; (2) provide mandatory minimum sentences on smuggling convictions, and expand seizure and forfeiture authority; (3) make illegal U.S. presence a crime; (4) increases penalties for improper U.S. entry and for marriage and immigration-related entrepreneurship fraud; (5) provide mandatory minimum sentences for aliens convicted of reentry after removal; (6) impose on smugglers the same sentences that the aliens they have smuggled would receive; (7) include among smuggling crimes the carrying or use of a firearm during such activity; and (8) revise voluntary departure provisions.

Directs the Secretary: (1) and the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to increase the availability of Department of Defense (DOD) surveillance equipment along the U.S. international land and maritime borders; (2) to assess border security vulnerabilities on Department of Interior land directly adjacent to the U.S. border; (3) conduct a training exercise on border security information sharing; (4) establish a Border Security Advisory Committee; and (5) establish a university-based Center of Excellence for Border Security.

But there is much more. Please visit link for more information.

Related News Links:
thomas.loc.gov
www.suntimes.com
www.voanews.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
politics.abovetopsecret.com...
politics.abovetopsecret.com...
Confrontation between Mexican National Gaurd and Minutemen?

[edit on 11-3-2006 by TrueAmerican]

Hmm, the sheer number of protestors on this topic in one city alone (up to 500,000) also brings to mind that if there are that many alone in Chicago that are willing to skip a day of work to go out and protest a bill that seeks to control their illegal migration here, then I wonder what will happen when the INS really cracks down across the country and tries to deport them all.

The numbers have got me really confused. Some outlets are reporting half a million people!

Some are reporting 100k.

You're reporting 300k+, so, in between the bookends that have been established.

Honestly, I don't know what to believe. If there really were a half million freakin' people there, that's really something. Even 100k is impressive though.

My position on the border, and immigration, is that we should either open leave the border open and legislate accordingly, or shut the damn thing and use current laws. What we're doing now makes no sense, except when it comes to allowing corporations to make tons of money at the state's expense.

We all pay so a few can prosper. Bad deal if you ask me.

I don't have anything against the flood of immigrants, my mother and my father's family both immigrated here, we've only got like one generation on the folks coming up from the south.

Edit: to finish my sentence.

[edit on 12-3-2006 by WyrdeOne]

[edit on 12-3-2006 by WyrdeOne]

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
The numbers have got me really confused. Some outlets are reporting half a million people!

Some are reporting 100k.

You're reporting 300k+, so, in between the bookends that have been established.

Honestly, I don't know what to believe. If there really were a half million freakin' people there, that's really something. Even 100k is impressive though.

Yep, I saw the varying numbers too, so I went with what they said the police estimated it to be, which was 300,000. That's an aweful lot of people. Hell, if the INS had just showed up with all the greyhound buses in Chicago and surrounding areas, we'd only have 24,700,000 or so left to deal with.

My position on the border, and immigration, is that we should either open leave the border open and legislate accordingly, or shut the damn thing and use current laws. What we're doing now makes no sense, except when it comes to allowing corporations to make tons of money at the state's expense.

Nice statement WO, although I wonder is that really at the state's expense, or at the people's expense- in terms of lost jobs, additional crime, and all the things that illegals bring with them here?

We all pay so a few can prosper. Bad deal if you ask me.

I don't have anything against the flood of immigrants

Well I don't either, as long as it done through the proper, legal channels. While some may argue that the average Mexican would have no chance of obtaining a visa, you're absolutely right- not a chance in hell...now that there are so many million here illegally.

Yep, I saw the varying numbers too, so I went with what they said the police estimated it to be, which was 300,000. That's an aweful lot of people. Hell, if the INS had just showed up with all the greyhound buses in Chicago and surrounding areas, we'd only have 24,700,000 or so left to deal with.

quote: My position on the border, and immigration, is that we should either open leave the border open and legislate accordingly, or shut the damn thing and use current laws. What we're doing now makes no sense, except when it comes to allowing corporations to make tons of money at the state's expense.


Nice statement WO, although I wonder is that really at the state's expense, or at the people's expense- in terms of lost jobs, additional crime, and all the things that illegals bring with them here?

Well, the people comprise the state, so it's costing us directly, yeah, no doubt.

I think if America is going to allow immigration, it should strive to make good use of the influx of people. People are a resource, and if they're properly cared for, like any other investment in growing things, they pay dividends.

Immigration doesn't need to be a problem. Look at all the countries with negative immigration and birth-rates, scrambling to find people to come to their country to keep it from withering on the vine. We're in an advantageous position if we can utilize the resources at our disposal without losing too much to the robber barons in the process.

All good points WO, but interesting that you seem to be leaving out the issue of LEGAL immigration versus ILLEGAL immigration. That is where my contention lies mostly with the subject. I say mostly, because I do have other issues that come with immigration such as foreign language signs (that's a link to a podcast thread about it).

Build the wall, I say.

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
My position on the border, and immigration, is that we should either open leave the border open and legislate accordingly, or shut the damn thing and use current laws. What we're doing now makes no sense, except when it comes to allowing corporations to make tons of money at the state's expense.

I think that we need to close the borders and create new laws to handle the problem. And it is a problem.

Anchor babies alone cost us billions of $ a year. Add to that the other social costs of illegal immigrants, and the burden on the states is increasingly onerous. I agree that immigrants can be a valuable resource, but there's only so much of the USA to go around.

In addition to new legislation, we need to convince Mexico that co-operation in addressing this problem would be to their benefit. As it stands today, the Mexican gov't is working against us by shifting their social costs onto our shoulders.

On another note, that was quite the crowd that showed up in Chicago. The topic is surely in the front of people's minds. I wonder how many of them are eligible to vote?

[edit on 12-3-2006 by jsobecky]

Where do these freakin' illegal immigrants get off thinking that they have rights in the United States? It is OUR RIGHT to protect our borders, our country, our economy and our citizens. And if that means building a wall to keep 'em out, then that is our right!

Let 'em protest - who cares. The best part is that these idiots come out and identify themselves. We can get pictures of them and then go after them to deport them. Keep up the good work, idiots!

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
I don't have anything against the flood of immigrants,

As long as it's LEGAL immigration I have no problem.
It's the illegals that break the law. They flood the
hospitals and cause problems for the schools, etc etc ...

many immigrants claim it to be a blatant violation of their
rights

THAT's the big problem. They think it's their right to break the
law and come here illegally. Even the Mexican president has
said it's their right to do so. The freak'n criminals are a drain on
our society and should be rounded up and deported. A HUGE
wall should be built along the border. Nice and high and nice
and deep so they can't make their drug tunnels under it.


Kozmo is 100% correct on this.


[edit on 3/12/2006 by FlyersFan]

Originally posted by FlyersFan
THAT's the big problem. They think it's their right to break the
law and come here illegally. Even the Mexican president has
said it's their right to do so. The freak'n criminals are a drain on
our society and should be rounded up and deported. A HUGE
wall should be built along the border. Nice and high and nice
and deep so they can't make their drug tunnels under it.

I wonder what would happen if 25 million Americans illegally infiltrated Mexico, took many of the few jobs they had, increased their crime rate, damaged their economy, strained their healthcare system, and sent 70% of the money they made right back to the US. Anyone wanna go live in the tropics?

Yes to the wall! And as to the tunnels, that is how I suspect that the majority of the illegals got in here. They were secret for a long time until the civil authorities started borrowing new technology developments from the military to assist them in finding underground structures.

I don't know if you guys saw the recent story about the two supervisory border patrol agents that just got busted accepting large bribes to help groups of these people make it across the border.

www.sltrib.com...

Everyone is complaining about these people, when they are still human beings who need help. Why are they coming here? Because we're the "land of the free" and there's a chance that they can make enough of a living here to support their families. This is probably something they can't do in their home countries.

How about this, rather than complaining, punishing, deporting or imprisoning these people why don't we find a way for everyone to win. If we, as the most powerful and benevolent country in the world, help some of these countries get on their feet so that there isn't the drastic difference in quality of living, maybe people wouldn't need to come here.

At the very least it may take some of the weight off of us, and maybe illegal immigrants will start heading to mexico for the good jobs and schools.

Originally posted by Rasobasi420
Everyone is complaining about these people, when they are still human beings who need help. Why are they coming here? Because we're the "land of the free" and there's a chance that they can make enough of a living here to support their families. This is probably something they can't do in their home countries.

Raso, I don't think the reasons they are coming here are in question. And I can promise you that there are even more in Africa and Central America that need much more help than these illegal Mexicans, and who are in far worse and desperate situations. Can you imagine if the US shared borders with Africa?

How about this, rather than complaining, punishing, deporting or imprisoning these people why don't we find a way for everyone to win. If we, as the most powerful and benevolent country in the world, help some of these countries get on their feet so that there isn't the drastic difference in quality of living, maybe people wouldn't need to come here.

A very noble and sympathetic thought, Raso. If we currently had a large surplus budget instead of trillion dollar deficits, no homeless, hungry or crime-ridden ghettos, and an administration focused on basic humanitarian need instead of frivolous wars, I would wholeheartedly agree.

Oh I love this, its just priceless, it is their right to ILLEGALLY enter the US and then demand to have the same rights as our citizens? My goodness, the audacity of these people knows no bounds.

Westpoint, I wonder sometimes if on some cosmic or natural level if there really are no boundaries, no territories, no borders, no illegals. Maybe there really is just earth, the heavens, and life- to be supposedly enjoyed, shared, and admired by all and everything that inhabits it.

[edit on 12-3-2006 by TrueAmerican]

Originally posted by TrueAmerican
Westpoint, I wonder sometimes if on some cosmic or natural level if there really are no boundaries, no territories, no borders, no illegals. Maybe there really is just earth, the heavens, and life- to be supposedly enjoyed, shared, and admired by all and everything that inhabit it.

Wow.

Lovely sentiments. Or maybe, totally legitimate observations. "...there really are no boundaries, no territories, no borders, no illegals. Maybe there really is just earth, the heavens, and life - to be enjoyed, shared, and admired by all and everything that inhabit it."

'Tis natural methinks. And quite real.


.

If you come into this country illegally then you are a criminal. I can understand someone trying to improve there life though. I'm sick of illegal immigrants getting in-state tuition at colleges, when someone from another state has to pay a higher out of state price. Maybe I should walk into Mexico and get free assistance from the Mexican government, and not expect the American government to pay. I think we should send a bill to each country for medical and education expenses that these illegal people cost our country, as most are not paying taxes here.

What this tells me is that most first world countries are in big trouble. It won't be long until the trojan horse takes over from the naturalized citizens and the long term populace.

Maybe Titor was right about one thing; there is coming civil wars and race wars.

Originally posted by TrueAmerican

A very noble and sympathetic thought, Raso. If we currently had a large surplus budget instead of trillion dollar deficits, no homeless, hungry or crime-ridden ghettos, and an administration focused on basic humanitarian need instead of frivolous wars, I would wholeheartedly agree.

Funny, always money for war, never money to help people.

Oh, and call me Ras

[edit on 12-3-2006 by Rasobasi420]

Originally posted by soficrow
Wow.

Lovely sentiments. Or maybe, totally legitimate observations. "...there really are no boundaries, no territories, no borders, no illegals. Maybe there really is just earth, the heavens, and life - to be enjoyed, shared, and admired by all and everything that inhabit it."

'Tis natural methinks. And quite real.

Holy stop the presses. I said something that soficrow actually liked. My life is complete now, I retire.

Just messing with ya sofi, but seriously, can ya add some of that good sound intellectual commentary you always have about the topic? What do you think about this? That's an aweful lot of people in just one city! What's your take on it?

ahhh screw the boarder, we dont need it really. Let the immigrants flood us as much as they want we have this on our side: Ability to identify them and our own people.
Let em come I say, set laws in place that:
#1: Any business that hires an immigrant over a qualified american is: put on trial for refusal to bolster the economy, has business taken over and sold to another american, if they claim no one wanted it put it up on a national system at unemployment offices and get someone a job that way, etc etc etc.
#2: Sell land ONLY to those who are american citizens for over 10+ years, military service, govt. jobs. whole nine yards also apply, no shortcuts to citizenship anymore.
#3: crackdown on outsourcing, shut it down bring the jobs back for americans, no more made in china for america, made in america for americans should be the slogan.
#4: Force the FBI to do their job, make them earn their money by doing something usefull for once like investigating business and corporations.
#5: Stripping of laws that let "green card" users take jobs in america "legally", strip that and force corporations to hire americans and pay living wages instead of hiring an immigrant for $0.05.
#6: Wipe out the China deal, bring those jobs all back and if at the end of the day there is a need for workers, we have the immigrants standing by.

Immigration is NOT a problem, so long as you know how to deal with it. Trying to BLOCK the boarder WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, I live in a border state, just look at places like: Las Cruses immigrants flood over all the time.
All these "laws" going in are a JOKE, they are just to make bush look good while he gets his buddies some extra workers, despite the name and what the bill would do it wont do it at all in the long run.
Maybe you should stop focusing on keeping people OUT (remember america tried this against the Irish and FAILED to an extereme point), but on getting rid of the MOTIVATION that brings people here. No jobs.. no hope... they wont come. Also at this point I would ask the mexican people: Ok you flood us and want to join us.... so why dont we just take over Mexico and make you part of the US and be done with it? Rather than waste time of you fighting to get IN, lets just go to you and add some extra tax doller to the nation and boulster your economy by getting you to stay where you are but industrialize your nation etc etc etc. while we work on our own nation. The western US has a HUGE population of Mexican people so I dont see any reason NOT to make Mexico part of the US, if someone says well its independence or something well if they are so eager to join us then it shows contrary so lets just eliminate the middle man.