Anti-Immigrant Groups: A Chorus of Intolerance
America's Voice, Column, Maribel Hastings, Posted: Nov 13, 2009
While Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) has called supporters of immigration reform to participate in a national conversation on Nov. 18, the anti-immigrant organization Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC) is holding “Tea Party” protests in various states this Saturday.
With all the noise they make and the fear they inspire in Congress, one might assume the protestors numbered in the millions -- but ALIPAC’s Web site lists, as of today, 52 planned “tea parties” and around 4,500 people anticipated to attend.
Nevertheless, anti-immigrant groups remain a stumbling block for immigration reform -- and an opponent against whom supporters have to stay on guard.
This sector includes organizations, movements and institutions that range from extremist neo-Nazi groups to respected Washington, D.C.-based think tanks. There are also the legislators who often seem to be spokespeople for these organizations, some of whom make up the House of Representatives’ Immigration Reform Caucus, composed of 88 Republican and 5 Democratic members of Congress.
William Gheen, founder of ALIPAC, says that he hopes that the events of this Saturday “combined with our lobying [sic] efforts and support for campaigns will stop these attempts to destroy America through mass illegal immigration and amnesty.”
Their efforts
In 2006, when the Sensenbrenner proposal -- which would have criminalized undocumented immigrants -- sparked massive marches and protests, the anti-immigrant movement found itself caught off guard and could only muster a feeble response.
But when debate over reform began in the Senate in 2007, they had organized themselves to use the Internet effectively, and orchestrated massive campaigns to call and email Congressional offices.
They also forged tacit alliances with ultraconservative radio and television talk-show hosts, who continue to support them, and with so-called “journalists.”
As of this week, at least, one fewer legitimate media outlet will be providing a platform for anti-immigrant views. On Wednesday, Lou Dobbs announced his resignation from the channel--effective immediately. His departure came after months of pressure from a national coalition urging CNN to "Drop Dobbs" for disseminating lies and stereotypes about immigrants and Latinos. For years, Dobbs used his program as a bully pulpit to attack the idea of comprehensive immigration reform.
Their current status
After taking credit for the defeat of immigration reform in 2007, the anti-immigrant movement saw the rise of Barack Obama -- a Democrat, an African-American, the son of an immigrant father, and a supporter of immigration reform -- to the presidency in 2008. Furthermore, they saw the majority of their candidates in federal, state and local elections go down in defeat.
But Obama’s public-opinion “honeymoon” is over and immigration opponents are hoping to exploit the economic crisis, the spectacle of this summer’s health-care reform “town halls,” and divisions among Democrats to revive their agenda.
Accusations of racism
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights advocacy group, the core of the anti-immigrant movement is interconnected--funded by a single source.
In its report “The Nativist Lobby: Three Faces of Intolerance,” the SPLC reports that the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), and NumbersUSA were all created by restrictionist John Tanton, who has been linked to the Pioneer Fund, an institution that has conducted studies designed to prove the superiority of the white race.
According to SPLC’s Mark Potok, FAIR is the lobbying arm of the anti-immigrant movement; CIS is the “independent” think tank; and NumbersUSA organizes the base.
2009, a different story
The immigration opponents boast they’re ready for the battle of 2010. Their argument: With 16 million people unemployed across the country, “Americans will never accept another amnesty.”
But Rich Stolz, director of the national Reform Immigration for America campaign, points out that this time, advocates for immigration reform are ready to neutralize their attacks, drawing on the political power that Latinos and immigrant communities demonstrated in the 2008 elections.
“The campaign is gaining momentum and is active across the country in ways that would never have been possible before,” says Stolz.
Ali Noorani, director of the National Immigration Forum, concurs that this time there are more allies of reform ready to implement a three-prong strategy: “mobilize the base, win the middle, and marginalize the opposition.”
“Never before have we been able to do so much and engage so many allies. We have an incredible amount of work ahead, but we’re confident,” says Noorani.
Rafael Prieto Zartha contributed to this article.
Related Articles:
DREAMers: Taking the Reins of their Cause
Law Enforcement Officials Call for Immigration Reform
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User Comments
Nezua on Nov 18, 2009 at 11:40:00 said:
Ignore Brittanicus, the Copy&Paste Troll. You'll stay saner!
It's a very exciting year, no? Dawn of new days, and maybe we can all learn to work together instead of promoting theories of scarcity and energies of fear and hostility.
PS, to jerseycityjoan on Nov 14, 2009 at 16:44:03, who wrote: "Mexico accepts few immigrants. It is a crime to be an illegal alien in Mexico."
Dig this: theunapologeticmexican.org/elmachete/2009/11/05/mexico-she-welcomes-the-opportunity/
Alpha Beto on Nov 17, 2009 at 09:24:43 said:
Stan - Yeah, I know about NINA, I'm sorry you have suffered for it, of course, it happened like 120 years ago so you must be at least 140 years old. How many years did your family wait to emigrate? How many of your compatriots have you seen jailed because of their immigration status? And how many parents of your compatriot children have you seen deported? How many times have your compatriots been jailed during St Patrick's day when they were doing nothing? The immigration laws are very unfair, it's almost impossible for Mexicans to emigrate to the US legally. If it was easier, I guarantee that most immigrants would only be in the US enough to eke out a living and would happily return to Mexico. So the restrictionism placed upon immigration laws plays against desired results.
Alpha Beto on Nov 17, 2009 at 09:17:35 said:
Brittanicus, you just ramble on saying nothing that makes sense. Never has anything to do with the article, and are you like European that you prefer an English moniker?
Brittanicus on Nov 17, 2009 at 08:23:01 said:
E-VERIFY OVERTIME CAN REDUCE THE 20-30 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE BY "ATTRITION." WE DON'T NEED DEPORTATION ON A MASSIVE SCALE AS THEY WILL LEAVE ON THERE OWN. POLITICIANS CAN ADD AMENDMENTS TO THE 1986 IMMIGRATION BILL, INSTEAD OF THE TRAVESTY OF FORCING A NEW ONE ON THE FINANCIALLY HURTING AMERICAN PEOPLE?
Bloggers nationwide brought to the public attention the need to stop the infiltration of illegal immigrants in the workplace. Now the voice of --THE PEOPLE--are demanding sealing the borders tight and that every corrupt politician catering to corporate welfare--MUST GO, Starting with Sen.Harry Reid (D-NV) Special attention should be drawn to incorrigible governors, lawmakers, mayors judges and elected officials who have ordained policies of SANCTUARY STATES.
Hopefully E-Verify will become a nationwide vetting system to remove illegal workers from your office or from your factory? It has shown its efficiency, because the open border organizations have moved heaven and earth to smash it? Now it is firmly entrenched in every American workers mind, that it can save their jobs. Even Sen.Harry Reid, who tried to table E-Verify failed miserably and now, is funded for another 3 years. This gives reputable politicians time to make E-Verification mandatory as it’s been evaluated as a good immigration enforcement instrument and it could be introduced for other purposes. As a national legal people's identifier and combined with other data bases, it usages could be essential to recognize fraudulent drivers license, auto registration. Child support, health care and many other verifications of individual who think they are safe from government. But its main restrictions will to terminate foreign nationals appropriating US workers jobs.
In the future this data base could be established at airport terminals for departures and arrivals. It will be an ongoing fight against the opponents such as US chamber of Commerce, ACLU, Council of Foreign Relations, business organizations, agriculture and other groups. It is certain to be a bargaining chip in shoving through another Comprehensive Immigration Reform package, that will devastate America. An overflow of poor, uneducated humanity, looking for free health care will start pouring into our nation. Around the world rumors are already flying that if you slip across the sieve of a border, you can get work as low income and get all your taxes back by lying on the tax form. Tax credits for non-existent supported children is an industry, that costs the US taxpayer billions a year. If Napolitano thinks that --ALL--Democrats will accept another trillion dollar budget deficit, cause by a new BLANKET AMNESTY.
That bridge is still available in Brooklyn..? Very few Republicans will accept another AMNESTY? Not too much chance from Independents. Nor will legal immigrants or ethnic Americans who were born here, fought in four wars. Even people from South of the border are very reticent of allowing more people in, when there is 15 million unemployed. It means millions of low skilled workers would feel the crunch first, as already illegal immigrants who take their wages under the table, especially in Sanctuary States and undermine US labor?
I know quite a few Democrats who signed onto the Obama Presidency that will fight against any travesty called Comprehensive Immigration Reform? The one in 1986 was a complete disaster and unable to handle the sudden in surge of millions of more destitute people, thinking they were going to collect welfare? The doors to America are wide open, but nobody in their right mind is going to accept the first surge of 2-3 million coming from the South when they hear Lady Napolitano proclaiming a new AMNESTY? Those who believe in America’s survival, without OVERPOPULATION as stated by the US Census bureau better read facts, not the lies at NUMBERSUSA. Those who want details of corruption in WASHINGTON and state government go to JUDICIAL WATCH. Overpopulation, traffic hell should go to CAPSWEB. Other sites of interest on Immigration enforcement is ALIPAC and AMERICAN PATROL. We the people have the ultimate power to throw out anti-sovereignty incumbent politicians. Call and command these do-nothings to--STOP--this facade at 202-224-3121.
Stan on Nov 16, 2009 at 08:27:15 said:
Alpha Beto,
If your family legally emigated to the U.S. great for them; I'll bet they're good neighbors irrespective of your rambling unfocued arguments that do not address my points. (BTW, my next door neighbor is from Costa Rica & he's a great guy.) In terms of bigotry etc., we have all experienced this including myself and my ancestors because of my Irish ancestry (recall the NINA signs).
Every country has the right to control its borders and have sensible immigration policy and laws that are enforced -- none of which we have now -- and we're again being told to swallow another mass amnesty which would basically be a redux of the failed 1986 IRCA if it should pass.
Chuck on Nov 15, 2009 at 23:22:13 said:
I saw the website for La Raza, they didn't get involved on this issue, they just reported the outcome. La Raza was founded as a response to the abuses of the government (specifically police) against the Brown people. Their focus has never been immigrant rights, although they have supported them. It also was at the forefront of the Chicano movement, those who opposed them, demonized them at every level. La Raza has never been against America or white people, it has just searched for equal rights for Chicanos, but has also lent a hand to equal rights for Blacks and Indians.
Alpha Beto on Nov 15, 2009 at 13:06:26 said:
drs - Has anyone else mentioned La Raza on these posts besides you? And if you think about La Raza what you mentioned, then you don't know anything about La Raza. You must be believing the drivel spread about La Raza from anti-immigrant think tanks. It's kind of comparing white people to KKK. It's just not true.
drc on Nov 15, 2009 at 09:31:41 said:
Sadly many times all Hispanics do get put into the catagory of the illegals. Much of it due, I think, to a lack of compromise that groups like La Raza want with immigration, which builds resentment. I feel sometimes that these groups care less about America and more about Mexico or Mexicans. Open border, access to education, healthcare, move to the front of the line, and don't bother to even try to be American or what America is about. Nothing kills me more when I meet someone who has been here for years, wants to stay, but did not bother to learn English. Yet some how I, we, owe him? As an aside. Look at the nations south of the border,all of them. Why do you think they are unable to have the kind of country like the USA? They don't lack resources. Perhaps the superior American culture is what they should try to copy rather than bring the failures north. And yes we were built on immigrants. But like my grandparents, who followed the rules, they wanted to be American and were proud to be so.
Alpha Beto on Nov 14, 2009 at 18:20:44 said:
So Stan, like I stated before, whenever those anti-immigrants who are openly against Hispanics procreating or moving into their neighborhood, they just mean for the illegal immigrants? How am I supposed to take their statements? My family is composed of 5 legal immigrants, all with college degrees, all professionals, altogether we pay about $200K in taxes every year, yet we still hear bigotry directed at us. One parent did not want me to teach their children because I had an accent, but my students were passing the math part of their college exams on the top 10%. I've had people refusing to talk to me because of my accent, and people have tried to talk to my employees believing they were the bosses.
So while those were inconveniences, I don't care. If anyone doesn't want to do business with me, I don't care, but people should not complain when I fire them when they are being racist after being warned.
I guess I could take my business outside of this country, but I believe in giving back to the country which gave me so much opportunity, and I do it despite all the hate rhetoric. In my business I only hire people who are legal to work in the US, but it is sad to see many US citizens believe immigrants get a free ride, yet a great majority of those refuse to improve their lot in life. don't blame the immigrants, take responsibility for your lot in life.
jerseycityjoan on Nov 14, 2009 at 16:44:03 said:
Mexico accepts few immigrants.
It is a crime to be an illegal alien in Mexico.
As I recall, figures from Wikipedia indicate that Mexico is the 14th richest country in the world.
So I ask: Is Mexico intolerant too?
Mexico is a rich country with many poor people.
Why should Hispanics demand that the U.S. allow poor Mexicans to live here? Let the rich Mexicans be forced to pay their fair share of taxes and take care of their own country's problems.
All these complaints about America from illegal immigrants and their supporters are ridiculous. All these demands that we do more for illegal immigrants are even more ridiculous.
America cannot solve the problem, which is the Mexican elite. Let's start making rich Mexicans take care of their own!
Stan on Nov 14, 2009 at 10:45:50 said:
Alpha Beto,
Stop your nonsense. There's nuts on both sides of this issue, but most citizens opposed to amnesty for illegal aliens are not against Latinos, Irish or whatever group. And no matter how much the left wing ethnocentric groups and right wing cheap labor libertarian types try to conflate immigrants and illegal aliens, it's not going to work. There is a big difference between the two.
The U.S. admits over 1 million (legal) immigrants annually, the most generous nation on earth. Even Lou Dobbs, contrary to what NAM says, is not "anti-immigrant." He's married to a Mexican-American and is not even a restrictionist as he calls for higher levels of (legal) immigration. He, like most Americans, is opposed to the disastrous policy of mass amnesty (or to use the current euphemism: "comprehensive immigration reform").
Alpha Beto on Nov 13, 2009 at 23:43:37 said:
Well Stan, then I take it those would be in favor of reasonable immigration reform, but those who claim to be against illegal immigration are not just against illegal immigration, but against Latinos, both immigrant and US Citizens, so don't tell me that those bigots are in fact trying to regulate immigration on a reasonable manner. Every unbalanced nut who claims they're against illegal immigrants eventually comes out against Latinos. Or maybe you just can't tell the difference.
Alpha Beto on Nov 13, 2009 at 23:39:00 said:
Britannicus - Again you ramble on like in all your previous posts. You never say anything related to the article, only your same dense statement about E-verify and illegals. You never contribute a single valid or intelligent thought. You are just wasting digital space.
Stan on Nov 13, 2009 at 23:18:22 said:
Those who oppose illegal immigration are not "anti-immigrant," they are opposed to ILLEGAL immigration and are in fact pro-immigrant as they respect those who obey our laws. And the vast majority of Americans are opposed to "comprehensive immigration reform" a/k/a mass amnesty which was tried and failed in 1986. No more!
Brittanicus on Nov 13, 2009 at 16:45:28 said:
The politicians are irreversible committed now to the E-Verify system of verifying legal workers. Sen. Harry Reid and his cronies may have--ONLY--authorized it for only 3 years, but they will have all hell to pay with the people, if they try to kill it again. They have managed to soften 287 G, the arrest and detain mechanism, given to regular police to fight illegal immigration. The same situation is in slowing ICE from expanding their duties, by executing lightening raids on suspicious businesses that are using large amounts of foreign labor. But right now the feds are building on E-Verify with great success, no matter what the open border opponents say? Another key component of Illegal immigration enforcement is knowing when tourists leave the country? Plans are being finalized to implement a data base of eye and fingerprint scans, when a person leaves the airport for departure.
-->I am sure with this coupled with entry customs inspection the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be able to detect visa over-stays? Along with further cultivation of E-Verify the US will have a much strengthened prevention against illegal immigrants. Very soon the mainstream of the American population will be confronted with this new Comprehension Immigration Reform. This should not be left for either the Democratic leadership or the minority Republicans to decide? We can no longer trust either party, to carry out the wishes of all of us. My thought would be a national referendum, but even though we are a Democracy we are over and over again--cheated by our legislators, who are in deep collusion with business organizations and the open-border entities? Those of us, who have a high respect for what citizenship means, should blast--ALL--Senators and Representatives and call 202-224-3121.
How can DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano keep a composed expression telling the American people that our borders are secure? When there is a--OUT-OF-CONTROL-war happening everyday on our Southern border, with drug cartels, gun running and slavers. She, President Bush's people already settled for a single layer fence, not was originally anticipated along the border? So this border separating the US from Mexico is far from being secure?
JETTISON SENATOR HARRY REID (D-NV) IN 2010 WITH A "NO AMNESTY" MESSAGE? ALL POLITICIANS NEED TO BE WARNED, THAT IF THEY VOTE FOR THE 20 TO 30 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS, THEY TO CAN BE EJECTED FROM OFFICE?
TELL THEM THEY MIGHT FORCE THROUGH ANOTHER BLANKET AMNESTY? BUT HAVE THEY EVEN CONSIDERED THAT MILLIONS WORLDWIDE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALERTED TO A NEW PATH TO CITIZENSHIP? ALL THESE ALIENS HAVE TO DO IS CLIMB THE UNDERMANNED BORDER FENCE AND WAIT FOR THE NEW ACT TO PASS?
NEWS FROM THE IMMIGRATION WAR FRONT.
A Democrat Congressman from Ohio has introducing a bill, to collect health care fees from foreign countries where illegal immigrants were borne? According to the source illegal aliens who receive health care in America, will have their treatment deducted from foreign aid sent to different nations.
Have our lawmakers had any comprehension of the dire predicament of not only the government welfare programs? Have they any conceivable idea of low income job loss to the American worker? Have Politicians even taken into consideration what is expected of the middle class taxpayers? Are Lawmakers not disturbed with OVERPOPULATION by 2050, according to the Census Bureau that will bring upon us all serious shortage of drinking water, energy and oil? Now learn about the corruption at state and federal level from JUDICIAL WATCH. Then read NUMBERSUSA to see the immigration enforcement gradings of our politicians, and then take back you vote. Finally see details of the forthcoming overpopulation at CAPSWEB.
Only the American people should decide the future of America? Not the special interest lobbyists, not the open border groups, nor the legislators who have completely ignored--THE PEOPLE'S--wishes for far too long? The Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) can be identified with an underground agenda of pushing politicians, to the free flow of cheap labor nationwide. See the absolute chaos by uncontrolled legal and illegal immigration in England and the rest of Europe. GOOGLE--the foreign press?
Lou Dobbs was an honest American and did not offer rhetoric, lies or propaganda about our country being invaded. The open border organizations such as the Southern Poverty league are well supplied with contributions by corporate foundations and special interest groups. You don't need to be a rocket scientist, to know where their loyalties are?