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Local immigration reform efforts include fliers, calls to senators
By Associated Press with Pantagraph reports
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Hispanic and other civil rights groups wrapped up plans for immigration reform marches and rallies Tuesday in dozens of U.S. cities, but conceded a replay of last year's huge turnout was unlikely.

Still, organizers said the demonstrations reflect a robust movement determined to win a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

"Just because the 12 million people who don't have legal residency don't attend a march doesn't mean they don't want it," said Eduardo "Piolin" Sotelo, a popular Spanish-language disc jockey in Los Angeles. "I tell my listeners that no matter what they do, just don't stop doing something."

Marches, meetings and voter registration drives were planned from Oregon to Florida.

In Bloomington, about 800 people gathered at Miller Park last year to listen to speakers, but no gathering is planned this year. Efforts locally have shifted to distributing fliers and lobbying lawmakers, said Sonny Garcia, a key organizer of last year's event.

"Last year we marched, we encouraged people to vote," said Garcia, a U.S. citizen who is a custodian, union member and community activist in the Twin Cities. "This is the next step: Call senators and let them know how we feel."

Garcia is organizing children and adults to hand out fliers Tuesday afternoon on the west side of Bloomington. The fliers call on people to call U.S. senators this week and list phone numbers.

There is disagreement nationwide on what the marches mean. Some say the goal should be fighting raids and deportations, while others contend it's about proposed legislation to require illegal immigrants to leave the United States during a six-year period before applying for citizenship.

"There's not homogenous leadership or means of communication," said Gordon Mayer, a vice president of the Community Media Workshop, which helped groups organize the Chicago march. "There was a sort of energy last year. This year that boulder has split up into a lot of smaller rocks."

Last May 1, the goal nationwide was clear: Fight a U.S. House bill that proposed making it a felony for all illegal immigrants to live here and called for building more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.

While immigration rights activists were united against that bill, their views now vary on a new piece of legislation. The STRIVE Act of 2007 would give illegal immigrants six years of temporary legal status, but then would require they return home and seek U.S. citizenship.

Some groups oppose the legislation, saying it would divide families that are already here, but others call it a good place to start talking about immigration reform.

Last year's May 1 boycott brought out more than a million protesters across the nation. But later rallies failed to produce large turnouts as legislation stalled in Congress and bipartisan proposals for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship have become more conservative.

The developments have disheartened many would-be marchers, but organizers said the frustration with Congress also brought out new supporters.

Yet stepped-up raids in recent months have left many immigrants afraid to speak out in public - a major change over rallies in 2006 when some illegal immigrants wore T-shirts saying "I'm illegal. So what?"

Some groups called for an economic boycott and hoped for a repeat of last year, when thousands of immigrants and students stayed away from work and school in a sign of solidarity. Others have rejected the boycott, arguing that it puts immigrants' livelihoods at risk and deprives children of valuable classroom time.

Pantagraph reporter Michele Steinbacher contributed to this story.

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Reader comments on this story - 26 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

get real wrote on May 24, 2007 11:56 AM:

" america was not built by us americans....we killed and stoled land from the mexican people.i say,if they are married to a u s citizen and have no criminal background and are working for a certain amout of time......then hell yes , give them amnesty.they are here with ties to our country.it would be unethical to to pull them from there family roots here in the united states and send to a country they barely remember. "

Reality_Can_Be_Hell wrote on May 1, 2007 7:14 PM:

" Illegal is just that. I don't understand what is so hard to understand there. If you are married to one and or hiding them out from the law you are committing a felony and can and should go to prison. The illegal agenda is almost as scary as the muslem agenda. This is war we need to stop the invasion now. Ship them and there families back home. Warn them if they are caught in this country illegaly again that they will be treated as spies and or terrorist. "

To proud of it: wrote on May 1, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Consider moving to his country of citizenship and your family could most likely live a life as legal citizens. In this country his employer should also be made aware of the admitted illegal status. "

Comment about taxes wrote on May 1, 2007 3:46 PM:

" He does have a fake SSN which he uses to work. He didn't steal the SSN from anyone. It is his and only his. He made the number up using the last few digits of his family's phone number. It allows him to work. And yes, we claim taxes as Married - Joint. He files his taxes with an ITIN number through the IRS which he had to apply for with a United States state issued id, his birth certificate, and a photo id. "

To...US citizen, and proud of it! wrote on May 1, 2007 3:09 PM:

" Maybe you can explain something to me...you say that he works, and that you have been responsible for getting him to and from his employment. You also say that you pay your taxes. How do you manage to do that? Do you declare both incomes? Does he have a SSN? If he does not, how do you declare his wages? If you don't, wouldn't you consider this cheating on your taxes WHICH IS ILLEGAL? And...if you are cheating on your taxes, why should I have to pick up you portion of the debt? I guess I just don't understand, but I look forward to you getting back to me and explaining it. "

To: to US citizen and proud of it wrote on May 1, 2007 2:46 PM:

" The only problem is, the appointment in Ciudad Juarez isn't a sure thing. Well, the appointment is a sure thing but they don't always approve them. If he were to be denied for whatever reason, that's an automatic 10 years out of the US. We don't want to risk that. :( "

To: "US citizen, and proud of it!" wrote on May 1, 2007 2:37 PM:

" Let's look at it this way: You don't hear women saying, "I married a criminal who is hiding from the law. He doesn't cause any trouble, he works, he pays his taxes, so you should all just forgive him and forget that he is a criminal. Oh and while you're at it, feel sorry for me because he can't drive and I have to make arrangements to get him places since he can't get his license." Does that sound ridiculous? To me, your argument for amnesty to all illegal immigrants sounds just as ridiculous. They are ILLEGAL!!!! EXPORT THEM!!! "

To: to US citizen and proud of it wrote on May 1, 2007 2:34 PM:

" The only problem is, the appointment in Ciudad Juarez isn't a sure thing. Well, the appointment is a sure thing but they don't always approve them. If he were to be denied for whatever reason, that's an automatic 10 years out of the US. We don't want to risk that. :( "

to:US citizen, and proud of it! wrote on May 1, 2007 1:55 PM:

" you need to find a good immigration lawyer. They might be expensive but they get the job done. I know there is one in Peoria, and several in Chicago. Your husband might have to leave the US for 6 to 8 months but it's well worth getting his legal status "fixed". My husband is going on 5 months out of the US and he just received his letter for his appointment in Juarez so he can come back to me and our children Legal, and no I don't get help either. "

citizenship wrote on May 1, 2007 1:27 PM:

" The problem is that illegal's children are granted full citizenship rights and can be used as anchor babies bringing more and more people in. The intent of the law was for children born in the US to LEGAL immigrants already in the naturalization process to have citizenship, but now it has been broadened by the courts to include everyone (even those on vacation). This in no way strengthens the bond between these people and the USA. Look what happened at VT, the 2nd ammendment was never intended for noncitizens, but our courts say everyone is entitled to citizens' rights. Bush had a chance to act on this post 9/11, but didn't want to offend his big business supporters and now the bleeding hearts on Capitol Hill will send him an AMNESTY bill that will lead to the elimination of US sovereignity. God Bless Estados Unidos Noramericanos "

Dispelling the myth wrote on May 1, 2007 12:47 PM:

" It is a big misconception that if you marry a US citizen, you are automatically legal. That is not the case. If an illegal immigrant were to marry a US citizen today, the government doesn't allow for any path whatsoever for legalization. Now, is that completely fair to the US citizen spouse, or their children? "

US citizen, and proud of it! wrote on May 1, 2007 12:45 PM:

" So, you see I'm a US citizen, but I am married to a man that is illegal in this country. Did you know that we can't "fix" his legal status? Even though I was born and raised in Central Illinois, and am as American as it can get, I fell in love with someone from another country that was here illegally. We have a daughter. We pay our taxes. We pay our bills like everyone else. We get NOTHING for free. He doesn't drive because he has no driver's license, and I have to constantly arrange MY schedule so I can make sure and get him to work and pick him up from work, even if that means I'm up with my daughter at 4am to get him there. We aren't asking for a million dollars, free health care, or to steal anything from anyone. I am asking that my husband be allowed at least the OPPORTUNITY to move towards legalization. "

to .... wrote on May 1, 2007 11:27 AM:

" INS was here the week of Easter, they raided only a certain store, and 2 factories and a couple restaraunts. they were dressed in normal clothes and were asking to see every person they came acrossed id's. yes they did get some illegals but can you imagine the children that were left behind wondering where their parents are. That's really sad. But now there are positions available for the people that say the illegals "stole" their jobs. they should of raided the jails here too, i'm sure there are a few illegals in jail. "

... wrote on May 1, 2007 10:35 AM:

" whats even worse is that there are illegals using our courts to take money and children from their citizen spouses while working with fake socials and expired drivers licenses. i heard ins was in town a few weeks ago but they need to expand from just raiding the factories to also reviewing whats going on at the courthouse. "

Sorry, not Ceasar Chavez; wrote on May 1, 2007 10:08 AM:

" my mistake, that was Sam Zamarripa of Georga. "

Wasn't it wrote on May 1, 2007 10:05 AM:

" Ceasar Chavez who paraphrased MLK's "we shall overcome" to "we shall overwhelm"? "

if:: wrote on May 1, 2007 8:37 AM:

" if i would march being white i would go to jail and be part of kkk or even mob action and if i were black it would be gang banging and mob action also so why can they march and get away with it! what are thw laws for if the authorities cant enforce them!!!!(im mIxed) "

///////// wrote on May 1, 2007 8:15 AM:

" these marches would be a great place for ice to round up all the illegals.like shooting fish in a barrel "

Send wrote on May 1, 2007 8:02 AM:

" Them all back. If your illegal then you need to be deported on the next bus out of this country "

MEXICO NOW U.S.?? wrote on May 1, 2007 7:42 AM:

" i mean why dont we just add mexico to our country because if we legalize the ones that are here they all will be running saying they were here they have taken over so bad it makes me sick !! i dont hate anyone but you cant even drive through mcdonalds anymore without taking an order and barely understanding them! they should have to speak our language and not cater to theirs even if that means no school for their kids this is america!!!!! not mexico!!at this point they arent leaving and we arent deporting!!! "

Pink Floyd wrote on May 1, 2007 7:40 AM:

" Here's an idea. When caught deport them. To Iraq! "

Question wrote on May 1, 2007 7:39 AM:

" Why is it that people get upset that law enforcement is doing their job by raiding "ILLEGAL" operations. Why is it these crybaby supporters think it's ok to lie,cheat and steal while the rest of us have to obey the laws or be punished? Protesting raids on places that sell identities that affects the rest of us who follow the rules? I'm sick and tired of these illegals scamming our system and government and getting benefits the rest of LEGAL citizens don't get. Get the H*** out and go home and fix your own government if you want change. Don't come here and bleed our system. BUILD THE WALL! "

flounder wrote on May 1, 2007 7:39 AM:

" i have no problem with immigrants as long as they are legal. there is a system in place and so why not use it? why not enforce the system that is in place? when someone wears a shirt that states i'm illegal-so what, that flies in the face of every American citizen and they should be incensed. all that does is demonstrate disrespect for the very thing they want to become, an American citizen. where else but in the US could a protest march of this sort be tolerated? in the many countries of this world they would be jailed, stoned, sometimes killed. but in the US, the country they want to join, the country they disrespect, they are allowed. makes very little sense to me as to why we tolerate actions of this nature. i guess that is why we are America. "

ML wrote on May 1, 2007 7:19 AM:

" Who do I write to demand that the US fight this invasion? Where do I go to join a march for OUR rights?? American citizens need to organize and let OUR voices be heard!!! We are just sitting back and letting it happen, trusting that the government will take care of us. Soon, our government will be ran by pro-illegal immigrants or by people who are only one generation removed from thier illegal immigrant parents. It needs to stop NOW. "

Leland Lesher wrote on May 1, 2007 6:21 AM:

" "I'm illegal. So what?" I will tell you what: you are here illegally. You are doing something that is against the law. If you are willing to break this law, you are willing to steal a legal American's identity. If you are willing to steal an identity, you are willing to steal money and services. You are a thief and a thief is a criminal. Criminals are not welcome in my house. Criminals are not welcome in my society. You are unwilling to do what is necessary to become legal. You just want EVERYTHING handed to you at no cost or legal effort. These are the problemS! "

illegal immigrants wrote on May 1, 2007 5:24 AM:

" What I don't understand stand is if you are illegal immigrants and you march in the public street WHY don't you go to jail????????? If I rob a bank I'd go to jail........... If you illegal your illegal............................ "
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