Immigrants stand up to be counted

SAN FRANCISCO--Thousands of immigrant-rights supporters here joined their nationwide counterparts Monday, taking to the streets to highlight the contributions made by people born outside this country.

Hoisting banners, beating drums and waving American flags, demonstrators filled Market Street, the main thoroughfare of the city's Financial District, in what was billed as a "Day without Immigrants."

"Todos son inmigrantes," read one sign, expressing in Spanish the notion that nearly all Americans are either immigrants or descendents of people who migrated to this country.

Nestor Puente, a plumber, said he is now a legal resident of the United States, but wanted to march in support of all immigrants--legal and illegal--who he said are working to make this country better.

"I've got to support my people," he said, as musical instruments and chants echoed in the background.

Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people skipped work and school to demonstrate the depth of contributions immigrants make to American society.

Puente said he felt great about the turnout and hopes the efforts get the same attention as the rallies Sunday, in San Francisco, D.C. and elsewhere that protested the situation in Darfur, Sudan.

"They made the front page," Puente said. "What about us?"

As is often the case in San Francisco, the rally spilled over into support for other left-leaning causes as well. Sign-carriers, for example, could be spotted stumping for progressive politicians and protesting the war in Iraq.

[bn-tx]

Tech Tie-In

Maybe I missed it, but I usually expect CNet news to have some, even minimal, tie-in to technology. The point of this story is...?

[fakespam]

PROPGANDA

CNET is administered by a bunch of Liberals who have an I'm-<br />better-than-you attitude, because they went to "college".<br /><br />Ironically, many major tech companies today are founded by <br />drop-outs from colleges.<br /><br />There is no tech angle. CNET is part of the Leftist bunch of news <br />sites, and they threw this report in just to promote their <br />administrators' viewpoints on what they think "we" should be <br />doing.<br /><br />In all frankness, they should be reporting on what the "Wii" <br />should be doing and all other things tech.

[bn-tx]

Oh, Yeah

By the way, what exactly is the parallel between illegal aliens in the United States and Genocide in Darfur? Why should the two get the same attention? Are low wages somehow morally equivalent to mass murder in San Francisco?

[fakespam]

Anti-American Media

The Media doesn't care, as long as people forget what this <br />country was founded on.<br /><br />If they can tie in illegal aliens "demanding" their Bill of Wrongs to <br />some soldier getting killed in Iraq or Afgahnistan, they will, just <br />to give a black eye to the People of the Nation.<br /><br />But the Media that reports that way has no ratings. Websites, <br />especially news websites, crush the Alphabet Soup evening news <br />broadcasts. If a person is far to the Left, and believes in <br />Marxism, are against America, they read cbsnews.com or <br />cnn.com, if a person is far to the Right and believes in a <br />Representative Republic, are for America, they read <br />worldnetdaily.com or other like minded sites.

[ajbright]

hmmm

As a legal immigrant it sometimes irritates the heck out of me that people who didn't go through the same headaches, paperwork and so on think that for some reason they have a right instant citizenship - as if living and working here illegally should be something they're rewarded for doing.<br /><br />A harsh line I'm sure, but the reality is that as a legal immigrant I have no one in my corner, in fact they want to make my lot far worse.<br /><br />I was not, and will never, qualify for any form of welfare, and would face instant deportation for committing any crime including violations of immigration law. I would then not be allowed back in the country for at least 5 years, if at all.<br /><br />I can not vote - in any election, local, state or national, and I am required to pay taxes.<br /><br />I now hear that even left wing lawmakers want to make my life harder, punish me for not complying with new, restrictive proposals - that is I should be the one singled out for scrutiny and then deported if I don't face up to it, rather than those that broke the law every second they've been in this country.<br /><br />They get citizenship, I have to carry a biometric id card and my personal information gets to be stored in a national database. It doesn't stop there, any prospective employer would be instantly predujiced against hiring me, because of the burden of proof he would have to present in order to avoid being fined for hiring illegals.<br /><br />I even love the term undocumented worker. As if the only problem is they forgot to fill out a form or something, but are otherwise compliant with immigration law.<br /><br />If I make a mistake on my immigration paperwork I face deportation. If I don't report my new address within 4 weeks of moving I face deportation.<br /><br />They didn't have to wait for months for a visa interview, face an aids test, argue with an immigration official that the income documented on my wife's financial support paperwork is enough to support the both of us (she gets fined and is liable for any welfare given to me). They didn't have to keep filling out paperwork for years after arriving, paying more and more in fees and administration costs.<br /><br />They didn't have to face a grilling interview, knowing that one "incorrect" answer could mean the whole thing comes crashing down on you.<br /><br />These are not particularly horrendous hardships, but they do cause incredible stress and the process takes years to complete.<br /><br />If I want citizenship, I then have to go through nearly the entire process again. Gathering up ridiculous amounts of "proof" that I came here for the right reasons, that I'm supporting myself, not receiving handouts from the government, and that I have committed any "immoral" crimes.<br /><br />So okay I do sympathise a little with the plight of illegal immigrants, who've settled down, have homes and family and face the agony of seperation if they're caught. But at the same time it annoys the crap out of me that my situation could be worse, just to make theirs better.

[janesnow1234]

You should have just flush your legal foreign passport down the toilet

Don't get mad, if you want easy citizenship, you can join the crowd by simply flush your legal foreign issued passport down the toilet.<br /><br />Then you can claim you are "undocumented worker" and benefit from getting instant citizenship without having the wait 10 years.<br /><br />Welcome to the land of the free and home of the brave.

[Seaspray0]

You've got my support

Lets get real. They are illegal immigrants... ILLEGAL! That means they are here in violation of the law. I've read their claims that they are improving america. Try and tell that to the local governments in the border states and you will here another story. The school systems are in chaos, the county hospitals overloaded, crime is overwhelming all because of illegal immigrants. Let me repeat that one word... ILLEGAL!

[RayGentry]

thank you ajbright

thank you ajbright. i've been reading all these stories and watching the news waiting for a legal immigrant to stand up and say, "why should they get what i've been working so hard to get just for being here??" i agree and think that we should hold everyone to the standards we do now. <br /><br />mexico deports more people per year than the USA...yet we have 20 million people living here illegally...send them back just like thier countries would send us back if we tried to do what's happening. if i want to become a mexican citizen, i have to go through the process. if i want to be french, i have to go through the process. our process should be respected by citizens of other countries just like they expect us to obey thiers.

[fakespam]

Shoot Yourself in the Foot

This's isn't the site for this to even be reported on, as they've as <br />effective as nothing to my bottom line today.<br /><br />For better reporting on this matter, please go to:<br /><br />www.worldnetdaily.com<br />www.newsmax.com<br />www.thenewamerican.com<br />www.drudgereport.com<br /><br />CNET is for tech, and trying to create a tech angle on these <br />people is pathetic.

[Jackson Cracker]

missed opportunity

Since most of these demonstrators are going to be<br />illegal immigrants, the INS should be monitoring<br />them in order to pick up people for deportation.<br />This would be more cost-effective than hunting<br />down the violators one or two at a time.

[Neo Con]

That was great!

What a great day! Light traffic, no lines at the supermarket! We just need 364 more of those each year -- every day should be a day without illegal aliens! Yay!

[KsprayDad]

The problem

Nestor Puente, a plumber, said he is now a legal resident of the United States, but wanted to march in support of all immigrants--legal and illegal--who he said are working to make this country better.<br /><br />"I've got to support my people," he said, as musical instruments and chants echoed in the background. <br /><br />There you go America...even this guy...who is 'legal', wants to support 'his people'. I thought 'his people' was supposed to be legal American citizens who respect and abide by the law??!!<br /><br />Deport each and every one of them and have them follow the laws you have in place America, not doing so is making you a weaker country.

[hidkal]

cnet has forgotten that

it has a legal website to publish tech news!

[hidkal]

So how many are there

The headline says "immigrants stand up to be counted". Did anyone count how many are there.

[Bob_Barker]

Guess what...

This had zero impact on my day. The trains still ran, the guy peddling dead flowers in the middle of the street was still there, the people pushing falafel and ice cream carts were still scootin around...<br /><br />Things must not be so bad if they can afford to miss a day's pay.

[Jonathan]

immigrants..illegal immigrant No.

I really would like to see all the ILLEGAL immigrants in this country show up for a rally somewhere. It would make things so much simpler.<br />While I feel for people who want to make a living I don't break the law doing it. If I'm unemployed and knock off a gas station and get caught, get thrown into lockup with 40 other people who also knocked off a gas station I don't expect to get off just because "everyone is doing it". That is the mentality that is going on right now. We have X million illegal immigrants right now so it makes it all right. Then you have other little facts like X amount of money that is leaving this country going back to family abroad. A noble gesture to be sure but that is money that is not going back into this country. That is money that will be spent elsewhere to inflate their economy.<br />I'm sorry but I'm a 3 generation natural citizen of this country. My parents, parents came to this country through LEGAL means. What does giving amnesty say to the people who have waited 10+ years to get into this country legally? So sorry mate. You just got fracked. <br />Immigrants can make all the noise they want but I wonder how many who are in support of this are illegal immigrants themselves or have a friend or family member who are illegal immigrants. Its all self serving BS in the end.

[Zymurgist]

I am against handing out citizenship this way.

The plan to grant (or at least facilitate) <br />citizenship to persons that illegally immigrate <br />to this country is a slap in the face to current <br />citizens and legal immigrants (such as my wife). <br /> <br />If you aren't aware of the process it takes to <br />legally immigrate -- let me tell you it's a <br />byzantine and demeaning process that takes <br />years, ream after ream of documentation, and <br />dealing with a bureaucracy so numbingly slow and <br />ineffectual that it would make the Soviet-era <br />Kremlin envious. <br /> <br />I think that something should be done at both <br />ends of the spectrum. Legal immigration needs to <br />be worked into a rational and streamlined <br />process. I'm certain that as it is now, the <br />process completely fails every goal it's <br />intended to fulfill. It splits up families, <br />causes economic burdens, and keeps out people <br />that could well be an asset to our country -- <br />and I see no evidence that it specifically <br />impedes those that would seek to undermine it. <br /> <br />I would support a program that was permissive of <br />granting temporary low-cost visas for workers <br />from Mexico for certain classes of work. Maybe <br />even a program to formalize the process of <br />matching the labor pool to jobs. <br /> <br />At one time, I taught ESL at a church in the <br />southern US and we had a number of students from <br />Mexico that worked in the US illegally. They <br />were great guys, and while they loved the US, <br />they had no desire to stay (and typically worked <br />6 months, then returned home, and came back <br />again). They were well aware that they were here <br />illegally, but at the same time needed to <br />provide for their families at home -- despite <br />being under-paid they still earned more in the <br />US than they could at home (if they could find <br />work there at all). They were very sensitive to <br />the accusation that they might be taking jobs <br />away from Americans -- and several quit jobs <br />when they felt that it was true -- so they <br />relegated themselves to doing low-pay work they <br />didn't think anyone else wanted. One guy that <br />was a cabinet maker was cleaning up offals, for <br />example. <br /> <br />Short of citizenship, there ought to be some <br />consideration given in this regard. Folks <br />wanting to immigrate outright ought to be <br />required to go through the formal process (which <br />sorely needs to be fixed), and those wanting to <br />work temporarily ought to be formally leveraged <br />as a resource in whatever capacity we <br />accommodate same to the mutual benefit of our <br />country and the people involved.

[mgwatson]

Good post

It was nice to read from someone with firsthand experience of the immgiration process. I agree with everything you said. Part of the fault lies with the govt policies, although it still does not change the fact that people who immigrate illegally are breaking a law.

[underwood44]

work permits

I agree with Zymurgist in every way . But I recall seeing a poster of Che' guverra in one crowed shot . As a former Marine and combat vet , I am more than willing to defend my country from within as well as out , and I am sure there are several million of us who feel that way , being here is a privelige , not a right !

[dewalt25]

The illegals

I'm going to come out and say that I am against illegal immigrants in all ways. My parents LEGALLY immigrated to the US 30 years ago and had to go through the hassles. In some way, the illegal immigrants have to be punished.<br /><br />The most important thing to do is to stop giving automatic citizenship to those born in this country. Make those kids illegal as well.<br /><br />I realize they come here illegally for a better life, but they are stealing money from taxpayers. STEALING! If we have money earmarked for schools, but now we have to shift some over to welfare, guess who loses?

[dmm]

My take (FWIW)

I see two frightening aspects to illegal immigration in the U.S.:<br />1) It is almost totally out of control. Plus, we are being told that it _should_ be that way, that America is owned by anyone in the world who wants to come here, rather than by Americans.<br />2) The demographics will insure that uncontrolled immigration will result in a U.S. that is at least half Latin American, in both language and culture, and half "other."<br /><br />Yes, we have historically been a nation of immigrants, BUT with crucial differences. <br /><br />First, the federal gov't controlled the influx so that immigration served our national interests. Diseased people and criminals were not let in, and workers with desired skills were given preference. Numerical quotas were enforced. <br /><br />Second, no single culture or language group has been allowed to make up the bulk of the immigrants for very long. For instance, very early in U.S. history, Pennsylvania started to become "too German" so immigration from German areas was severely curtailed. This "whoa, too many" response was repeated for Irish, Polish, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Haitians, SE Asians, etc. <br /><br />Third, immigrants were expected to adjust themselves to their new country, not the other way around. For instance, public schools were taught in English only, and all government documents were in English only. <br /><br />Lastly, the number of new immigrants has generally been kept to a small fraction of the existing population. Sometimes it would spike, but this would be followed by a dip (an enforced dip).<br /><br />The result of this CONTROLLED immigration has been a SINGLE nation comprised of people from a WIDE VARIETY of backgrounds who nevertheless think of themselves primarily as AMERICANS.

[bwvla]

Illegal = bad

We all are decendants of immagrants but most of us from legal immagrants. My grandparents came legally, worked hard for low wages, obeyed the law, and paid their taxes. The latest wave of immagrants and coming illegally which starts with breaking law. <br /><br />Anyone willing to break one law and gets ahead is likely to break another. Furthermore this is passed on to the children of these people that it is ok to break the law if it gets you ahead. This creates a dangerous precident.<br /><br />I think we should allow immagration to continue, but it must be at a controlled rate so that our infastructure (schools, roads, etc) can keep up, the immagrents are not totally fleeced by the unethical, and so that the effort of obeying the law from day one is rewarded.

Two Birds with One Stone

First off let me go on the record as saying I whole heartedly condone those that have entered the country illegally. <br /><br />Second your right to assembly is a constitutionally protected right that well considering you aren't citizens in no way shape or form gives you the right to protest. Which means that all of the illegal?s who where protesting yesterday should have been rounded up and taken into custody for disorderly conduct. <br /><br />The last point I want to make is I honestly haven't met one person that favors giving illegal immigrants? citizenship, BUT yet CNN and other news agencies state that 73% of all Americans believe that illegal immigrants should be given some form of citizenship. <br /><br />OK now on to my two birds one stone rant. We keep hearing how the number of people enlisting in the military is down. WELL why not just get all of the illegal immigrants to join the military, AND THEN when they are done with their term they will be given automatic citizenship. They really then could become true patriots like our forefathers. The forefathers of the US had to fight for their rights then I don't see why the illegal immigrants shouldn't have to fight for their rights.<br /><br />Thank you

[bobj123]

Suggest you...

...look at our ability to teach the Iraqis to fight. That isn't really turning out so well and you want us to teach illegal mexicans to fight as US Soliders, way to go, we just lost the southern states.

[IT_Thinker]

Illegal is still Illegal

There is not way around this. They are not "Undocumented". They knew the law. They broke the law. Now they want to be rewarded for being criminals.

[Zymurgist]

While I'm not for handing out citizenship...

The argument that someone is a criminal for <br />breaking a law is a facetious one. It is a <br />necessary but not sufficient condition that one <br />break a law to be a criminal. <br /> <br />Not all laws are legal. Laws are struck down all <br />the time. Further, the law has little permanence <br />-- what's illegal today could be illegal <br />tomorrow or vice-versa, yet the activity is no <br />more or less criminal (in the absolute sense) <br />than it was prior to or after the law came into <br />being. <br /> <br />It's still illegal to eat peanuts in church in <br />Massachusetts, but violators (you know who you <br />are) are not criminals -- at least most people <br />wouldn't consider them so. Drinking liquor, <br />banned in some towns, not others, yet you're not <br />apt to be labelled a criminal for having a glass <br />of wine in Manhattan, are you? <br /> <br />In this particular case, the people in question <br />are breaking the law quite specifically because <br />they are "undocumented," meaning that they <br />haven't filled out nor received the proper <br />papers. It's not illegal for them (in general) <br />to enter the country (at least temporarily) -- <br />but it is to have a job without proper <br />permission. <br /> <br />"Undocumented worker" is precisely descriptive <br />of their particular infraction of the law. It is <br />against the law, certainly. Whether it's truly <br />criminal or not depends on your point of view <br />and most probably on the situation. <br /> <br />For example, I had known a student at MIT that <br />had found out while applying for financial aid <br />that he was, in fact, not an American citizen. <br />He had believed that he was born here, but <br />apparently, his parents came to this country <br />after he was born and started the formal <br />immigration process. At the time, children were <br />included on the same application as their <br />parents. However, 20 years later, it turns out <br />that the INS never completed processing his <br />parent's application. He was too old to be <br />considered a child anymore, so the INS removed <br />him from his parents application and notified <br />him that he had to leave the country <br />immediately. He had lived in the US since he was <br />6 months old, never left, and at almost 21 years <br />didn't know anyone in, or even the language of, <br />his native country. <br /> <br />He was forced to leave. I don't know what <br />happened to him. However, I know for certain two <br />things: he was in violation of the law, and he <br />wasn't a criminal. <br /> <br />It may be semantics, but too often these days <br />people justify submitting to ruinous stupidity <br />foisted on them in the form of legislation <br />because "it's the law" without any question if <br />the law is just or even just plain sensible.

[IT_Thinker]

Illegal is still Illegal

There is not way around this. They are not "Undocumented". They knew the law. They broke the law. Now they want to be rewarded for being criminals.

[catsidney]

On target, shouldn't be rewarded

I know several people who entered this country legally, learned the language, civics and fulfilled the 5 year residency before applying for citizenship. That is the law, the legal way to emigrate to this country. <br />I support the McCain - Kennedy proposal along with hefty penaltys for those employing illegal aliens. The minimum wage would have been increased years ago without those willing to work for nothing.

[kieranmullen]

Stand up to be counted... In another language

In any other language but english so it seems.<br /><br /><br />I dont know what the tech tie in is here...<br /><br />Kieran Mullen

[tblair76]

You are RACIST

I am ashamed to be an American today. I have never seen so much RACISM in one country. You hate everyone who comes here, even the slaves YOU brought. You butchered the NATIVES and now you believe you are ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Yeah right, I bet God hates what is going on.

[Gromit801]

Well let's see.

I didn't bring any slaves to this land. I didn't butcher any <br />natives. As for "God," I don't believe in any religious mythology.<br /><br />There are no "natives." The first peoples came here across land <br />and ice from asia. <br /><br />I do live in the state that gets slammed by ILLEGAL aliens who <br />break the law as the first thing they do. How is not liking <br />criminal activity racist?<br /><br />Methinks thou doth protest too much, and your own racist stripe <br />is showing a mile wide.

[VI Joker]

Missing the point

Its not about race. Its about saturation and the law. In America when someone breaks the law there are penalties like jail, fines, etc. Should we reward people who break the law? Nope. It would set a the wrong tone for future generations of immigrants and citizens, who will be more inclined to breaking laws instead of changing them. If legal immigrants protested because they thought the process they go through is unfair, fustrating, and long (which it is) then I would support them. However for people to acknowledge the FACT they are breaking the law and ask that their acts be made legal, it does not make sense. What would be the point of the law if it can be broken without penalty? If give an inch to then what will be the mile.

[R Me]

to tblair76

happiness would be you leaving with an illegal under each arm

[jmmejzz]

Who are you talking about?

18th and 19th century America? Last I heard they are all dead. Grow up and deal with reality today.

[Jackson Cracker]

What race are you talking about?

Illegal immigrants are not a race.

[Seaspray0]

Son of an imigrant says "Nothing to do with Race"

My father is an imigrant to this country. He is now retired and still living here, but he did so LEGALLY and still carries his green card to this day... and no, he's not from Mexico as you most undoubtedly assumed. There are people from all over the world who imigrate legally to this country. It's not right he did what's legal but so many are not and getting away with it. This has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with a large group breaking the law and not enough being done to stop it.

[mattehood]

Sticks and stone

If america is racist, what is your point? What does that have to do with the rule of law. What does murdering the Indians population by our forefather have to do with the rule of law?<br /> Every nations has its own sins. The fore-fathers of Mexico murdered their on indian populations. So, what is your point? Mexico is a racist nation as well! What are you trying to tell me! Their sins are less than ours.<br /> If America was still the 13 colonies, mexicans would still be trying to get into America. The problem is Mexico. Mexico is two hundred years older than the United States. America has put a man on the moon. We are the best country under the sun. What is Mexico's problem. How much more time do they need to get their act together. 500 years!

[tblair76]

America is and always has been RACIST

I am ashamed to be an American today. I have never seen so much RACISM in one country. You hate everyone who comes here, even the slaves YOU brought. You butchered the NATIVES and now you believe you are ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Yeah right, I bet God hates what is going on.

[bobj123]

Ashamed of YOU

I am ashamed to have to read you post. Americans are not racist, every person in part is. People dislike change. And when another race is trying to change something in a country which rules have worked for centuries, but have been difficult for some to even attempt to follow well they are being ignorant of the rules, just as you are sterotyping every citizen. Get over yourself...

[Christopher Hall]

DO NOT play that card

It has absolutely nothing to do with race. And for you to call it out as such is just plain irresponsible.<br /><br />The American people are fed up not with the influx of Mexicans. They're fed up with the wanton ineptitude of the federal government to do anything worthwhile about it. Who in their right mind would deny someone who is here to work their right to earn a better living? There's a very good reason the people that have come here over the past few hundred years have stayed here - to the tune of 300 million, give or take - and that's because this is, flat out, the best country on the planet if you want to put yourself on track for a better life.<br /><br />If anything, the illegals are good for this country. They're good because of the burden they put on our social systems, showing us just how idiotic it was to enact them in the first place. They're good because they show us that the politicians haven't got a clue what they're doing. They're good because they're here to work.<br /><br />Be ashamed to be an American, but at least be ashamed for the right reasons. And carry that with you to the voting booth.

[Bob Brinkman]

You're the bigot

I'm an American and you have never met me, yet some how you seem to think you know me... and that I am by default bad.