Tancredo calls for arrests of college immigration activists.

[ProSense]

Tancredo calls for arrests of college immigration activists.

Hill Democrats were planning to hold a press conference today featuring three college students whose parents came to the United States illegally in order to promote the DREAM Act. But the event was postponed after anti-immigrant Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) called on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to arrest the three students:

“I call on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to detain any illegal aliens at this press conference,” said Tancredo, who claims to have alerted federal authorities about the well publicized press confrence. “Just because these illegal aliens are being used for political gain doesn’t mean they get immunity from the law. If we can’t enforce our laws inside the building where American laws are made, where can we enforce them?”

One of the students, Tan Tram, was recently in the spotlight when immigration officials raided her family’s home after she spoke out about U.S. immigration policies.

Supporting the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Tancredo is such an ass

The Dems need to confront him, not cave in to his crap.

[NekoChris]

2. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Good.

Sorry. No sympathy for illegals. I don't care what they're supporting or doing.

There's a proper way to get here and an improper way. And we have laws that say don't do the improper way. They're there for a reason, we made them, we should enforce them.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. How did you get here?

[TwilightGardener]

5. Indeed. That don't sound like no Democrat.

[eagler]

77. that very much sounds like a Democrat who believes in protecting and

keeping American jobs.

[BuyingThyme]

81. Yep.

[angstlessk]

16. You ARE a native american correct??? otherwise YOU are illegal

from the mayflower to the jamestown settlements...they were all illegal immigrants!

[The Straight Story]

79. Actually, the Mayflower folks weren't here illegally - The Indians had no immigration policy

and see what it did to them...

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. These KIDS were brought here by their parents

So why is it fair to punish THEM?

And BTW, entering the country the "improper" way is a CIVIL OFFENSE. Like jaywalking or speeding.

[Richard Steele]

63. What about the illegal immigrants that got you here? Differnt opinion of THEM, right?

nm

[Danger Mouse]

68. wow.

you're incredible.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Oh my God, what a fuckwad.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

6. No one has moved me from my position on the immigration issue.

Ya' know, there are immigrants who followed the rule of law to earn citizenship in this country.

It's an insult to them to allow an amnesty.

I understand immigrants' desire to be here. Most of them are Mexican.

I do not believe it's bigoted to suggest three approaches to the ills of immigrants:
1) Demand their own country make life worth living in their country;
2) Demand the U.S. pressure Mexico to pursue civil and equal rights;
3) Apply U.S. immigration laws EQUALLY.

The ONLY reason both Mexico and the US are seeking amnesty for immigrants is a mutually beneficial arrangement among the elite: Mexico gets rid of some of its population while US gains slave labor.

It's sick, all around, and amnesty is NOT the best answer to the problem. The rule of law and advocacy for equal rights IN IMMIGRANTS' COUNTRY(IES) are better answers.

[John Q. Citizen]

10. My Native American friend feels exactly like you do. When are you going to go get

your visa?

[NekoChris]

18. Somewhat different story

Different century. Different rules, different laws. We committed our sins yes, but we also came here as explorers as well as immigrants. We settled in unpopulated lands as well as populated. There was no national government, no rule of law that quite applied the same way.

I can sympathize with that feeling but, there's a rather large difference between the events of 200 years past and beyond, and that of the last two decades. We had laws in place, that they were aware of, and acted to dodge.

[John Q. Citizen]

25. Once a thief always a thief. Of course you have an excuse, Now get the hell out!

Damn squatters.

[NekoChris]

40. I can't excuse

The actions of people who died hundreds of years ago. I mean, there is a statute of limitations on some things. If this was all occuring in the same generation, like it is today, sure. That arguement would have more weight.

When you boil the situation down to bare bones like that it does become a very hard thing to argue against, but your point is festering with too many flaws. It was entirely too long ago for me to have ever had a hand in. Nor my parents. Nor their parents. Nor THEIR parents, and back even further than THAT.

And there's no telling if my ancestors were part of that batch or if they themselves came along hundreds of years later through the PROPER channels.

What I do know is that for at least four to five generations, my line has been a proper legal citizen, of this united states.

[LanternWaste]

87. Then what is the precise amount of time before conquerors become inhabitants

"I mean, there is a statute of limitations on some things."

What is the precise amount of time before conquerors become inhabitants? What is that figure based on? Who came up with it? Is it particular to this scenario only, or does it reflect applied historicity?

[angstlessk]

35. there WAS a rule of law..and it WAS populated..and there WAS a government

just not like the Europeans preferred...SORRY..YOU ARE WRONG ON ALL COUNTS...THE INDIANS FED THE SETTLERS TILL THE SETTLERS LEARNED TO CULTIVATE IN THE NEW COUNTRY..THEN SLAUGHTERED THE INDIANS...OR RATHER THE NATIVE AMERICANS...

[rAVES]

74. yea.. I think I read somewhere that the idea of the federal government

Was robbed from the Natives..

Shoot me down if I dreamed that :toast:

[John Q. Citizen]

80. The Iraquios confederation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. And the Native Americans ?

Since they didn't have "laws" it was okay for your ancestors to invade their land?

[Rage for Order]

56. And who did the "Natives" steal the land from?

Or did they simply sprout from the ground on which they lived? I imagine at some point they had to move onto the land from somewhere else, in essence invading someone else's land and taking it from them. They have no moral high ground on the issue either.

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. You really don't know the answer to that?

Maybe you should study up on your history.

[John Q. Citizen]

67. Some people are uneducated when it comes to

how the earth was peopled.

[Rage for Order]

75. Uh, it was a rhetorical question

Maybe you should study up on the use of literary devices. Saying that the Europeans invaded and took over the land from the rightful owners, i.e. Native Americans, implies that said Native Americans did not do the same to those who came before them, be it another tribe or other peoples.

[LanternWaste]

89. Sure they do.

Sure they do.

In more cases than not, the American Indian was prepared to live in tandem with the illegal immigrants that came here from Europe. Might I suggest for your elucidation a few books such as...

FACING EAST FROM INDIAN COUNTRY: A Native History of Early America

AMERICAN INDIAN LITERATURE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND ECO-CRITICISM: The Middle Place

FORT GIBSON: Terminal on the Trail of Tears

And my favorite...
Indian Traditions on the Mid-Columbia and the Warm Springs Reservation (Oregon Historical Society Press, 2005)


silly aside-- illegal immigrants used to be called Settlers...

[karynnj]

83. Nonsense

The native American societies had laws. When you speak of national government you seem to be making a case that this whole country was deemed by God to be one nation. The Indian societies apparently don't meet your criterion, so you are consider they had no laws? Not to mention they actually didn't speak English. You can argue that, in your case, that was n generations ago.

Also do you know for sure that each of your ancestors came here in a 100% legal way?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

55. When your Native American friend meets me and advises me to do so.

I doubt your friend would place the history of this nation on my meek shoulders.

If your friend and I had a conversation, I believe we could reconcile anything that appears divisive. I believe I could experience another peaceful moment with your friend.

[John Q. Citizen]

66. Funny, that's just how I interact with undocumented people from other countries.

I tend to like them. i want to give them amnesty.

Why wouldn't I?

[angstlessk]

17. You must be one of those Manifest Destiners..who think only white

eurocentric people deserve a good life...the rest should be slaves..or worse?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

50. You insult me. You don't know me yet MUST post such total bullshit.

Imagine me darker skinned than you.

Amnesty serves power-mongers and profiteers. Amnesty fails to respect equal application of laws.

It is THAT SIMPLE.

If you are genuine in your concern about slavery, acknowledge how immigrants are utilized in this country.

Just because it's a "prettier" picture than the slave boats, it is no different. The masters simply learned to coo people into a bin.

You are wrong, persecuting as you chose against me. I forgive you.

[LanternWaste]

90. don't worry, pal-- she's not after your job...

"Amnesty serves power-mongers and profiteers"

Not quite-- it also serves both myself and my girlfriend, whom you would call an illegal immigrant and whom I would call by name. So it's not really that simple as you stipulate, even though believing it is may help you deal with it better...

She's not really being used, either-- unless you count me talking her into seeing a movie this weekend instead of going to the Botanical Gardens as using someone.

(But don't worry, pal-- she's not after your job...)

[Rage for Order]

54. Yes, that's exactly what the poster said

I'm sure the poster also stomps on puppies in his/her spare time for pleasure :eyes:

[flashl]

27. * have heard you ...

* is pursuing an agenda to create a North American Union, effectively erasing our borders with both Mexico and Canada.

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. Wow

No, they aren't from Mexico.

Just wow.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

62. Presently, the majority of illegal immigrants are from Mexico, aren't they?

If I'm wrong, please tell me.

I AM talking about NOW, TODAY, PRESENTLY. If you are going to do a 200+ spread, that's not fair.

If WE are modern equal rights advocates, why would we equivocate, now? Why would we ignore all those immigrants who worked so hard to EARN legal status especially AT THIS TIME when it is so clear fucking clear to EVERYONE that, these people are being "shipped" because they are desperate to earn slave wages compared to their own country?

WHY THE FUCK ISN'T THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT BEING ATTACKED FOR ITS FAILURE TO CARE FOR ITS OWN POPULACE?

Didn't the former pResident's COMFORTABLE accusation on OUR MEDIA that WE are bigoted because our immigration laws just happen to exclude a flood of ANY people (naturally, he emphasized the Mexican people)?

I know, I know,...laws pertaining to immigration were wrong to begin with.

I don't want to WIN, goddamnit!!!! I gain absolutely NOTHING winning an argument with you. NOTHING.

I am talking about two broad schemes.

Nevermind. I'm tired of wasting my time.

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. The laws changed under Reagan

It is now nearly impossible to immigrate legally from Central America. But if you are a caucasian from Europe, no problemo.

So it really isn't fair to hold immigrants to the same standard as those who did have legal status when they came here for many years. Apples and oranges.

[martymar64]

82. How 'bout we quit dumping US corn on the Mexican market?

Artificially cheap corn on the Mexican market is one of the main causes for Mexican farmers being unable to make a living in their own country. It's our fault the same if not more than Mexico's fault. We're not innocent in this deal. To think other wise is just plain ol' racist.
We should just cancel NAFTA outright. That's a good start.

[YankmeCrankme]

84. Hell, I'll give you a modern day reason...NAFTA

If corporations are allowed to freely move capital across the border, labor should have that same freedom. Anyone who wants to get better wages should be able to go where the jobs are, just like corporations are free to relocate where there is cheap labor to make their products.

[LanternWaste]

85. Me either...

"No one has moved me from my position on the immigration issue."

Me either. There are people who think imaginary red and blue lines on a map are more important than humanity. I'm not one of them.

[NekoChris]

7. Sorry if..

..I disagree with you, and if my attitude is more than a little callous but..

I don't think we should allow illegal immigrants any quarter. I just don't. Perhaps I am too harsh, perhaps I don't completely understand how things work, but until someone can provide me an arguement that is sensible I do not see any reason why they should be allowed any privilages. If they want to come here to promote an act to get their children education, sure, come the right way and do it. Don't ride across the border in a van to do it or come in a boat in the dead of night.

I would expect to be treated the same were I to cross into another country and violate its immigration laws.

[ProSense]

8. Here is a sensible argument:

These kids have lived here most of their lives. They are not responsible for their parents' actions or the failed immigration system. Threatening to arrest a 21- or 24-year-old student who has been in this country since they were children is ignorant BS!

[NekoChris]

9. Is it?

They've been here 21 to 24 years, against the law?

I've seen stories about 70 year old men being deported because they trained dogs in WWII for the germans. Is it any more right for us to uproot a senior man because of that? Why should we send him home but not these youth? They have their entire lives to readjust, and even come in the RIGHT way to become citizens and go through the proper channels.

Children pay for the mistakes of their parents all the time, it's not their fault but they do. I wonder if ever once they thought about finding out what they would have to do to become legal. Probably not, they were content to ride the bullet train to easy town under the radar of the law. And now that they are adults, they doubly have no excuse because they are old enough to understand the laws their parents broke.

Almost a good arguement but I feel it's flawed.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Yeah, they should trot themselves back to Mexico, or stay out of college

and pick lettuce, because it's just going to KILL us as a nation to allow them to go to college and become productive, educated American citizens. Read the damn bill--it's not a fucking giveaway of cash and privilege. Remember that some of these kids grew up here--THIS IS THEIR HOME, whether you approve or not.

[NekoChris]

15. Okay, let's say..

..I grant you it's the kids homes.

What about the parents? What right do THEY have? Because their kids are here they get to stay?

Ah ha now you see the problem I hope. What's to stop people from showing up here and popping out babies left and right? They were born here, now the parents HAVE to stay!

[ProSense]

20. "What's to stop people from showing up here and popping out babies left and right?"

Are you serious?

[NekoChris]

23. Are you?

Defend the arguement. If you can't, fine.

Why should the parents get to stay?

[ProSense]

24. It's a ridiculous argument!

Reread the OP and stay on point: Tancredo going after the three students.

You have issue obviously and would prefer to shift the focus of the debate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. Tancredo isn't going after the parents!

Read the OP. Once again and slowly this time.

[Rage for Order]

57. LOL

Those people are popping out babies left and right!!!!!! LOL

[TwilightGardener]

30. That's why I approve a pathway to citizenship. Punish/fine for entering illegally, and

then get these people out of the shadows and on the way to open, productive, tax-paying citizenship. Step up border enforcement, crack down on companies hiring illegals, deport any who are not fit to remain here, and the illegal problem will start to resolve on its own, without mass deportation of millions (not practical OR possible), or uprooting bright, ambitious kids who now belong to this country and its culture. There's a good way and a bad way to do everything.

[NekoChris]

33. To a point..

.. I completely agree. A pathway to citizenship is acceptable, I can deal with that. In fact, I completely support this. If there was a system in place to both punish the illegals for the laws they broke but at the same time allow them the chance to redeem themselves, I would be behind it 100%. The problem is there's not, to my knowledge, and most plans proposed are blanket 'Get out of jail free' deals.

[TwilightGardener]

38. Not true--the so-called "amnesty" in the comprehensive immigration reform

bill that failed DID include fines and the requirement of being here a number of years (10 or more, if I recall correctly) before one could become eligible a citizen, AFTER those who come here legally. Obviously they would have to declare themselves, get documented, pay taxes, learn English, stay out of trouble, etc. Everyone wanted this bill to fail, and I can't fucking understand why. If it could be combined with stepped-up border and employer enforcement, then it sounds like a logical solution to me.

[NekoChris]

41. Now see..

..that bill makes perfect sense to me. I don't get why they would want it to fail too oh wait yes I do.

The problem is exactly like your first post stated. A very large number of businesses rely on the cheap labor that fearful immigrants provide. If there were a true crack down, industries such as our agriculture and some of our construction would take hits because they would have to either find new labor or start paying increased pay since most people would never take those jobs for those pay.

This does shift the blame off the immigrants to a point. They came here illegally and that is their crime. The corporations and businesses that hire them also need to be held accountable.

[TwilightGardener]

45. I don't know how much employer focus there was in the bill--

but that can always be amended.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. "popping out babies left and right"???

Good grief, where am I????

[ProSense]

14. "stories about 70 year old men being deported because they trained dogs in WWII for the germans"

We're not Germans, these kids are not dogs, they haven't committed genocide or war crimes, and as for this:

"Children pay for the mistakes of their parents all the time"

When was the last time a child was arrested because his mother or father stole something?

BS!

[NekoChris]

22. Every time..

..that parents are seperated from their children because the parents are seen to be unfit, have committed a crime that places them in prison and the children in the care of the state. What did they steal? A wallet? Sure, no biggie. Did they rob a bank? Yes, they are going to jail and yes, the children will suffer for it.

[ProSense]

28. That happens when parents die too. Again

When was the last time a child was arrested for a parent's crime? Your argument if BS!

[angstlessk]

32. yes..who is this person who feels sorry for 70 year old nazis??

but not hard working kids who want a life? seems killing millions is just an afterthought...but...making millions..if you are brown is something to be avoided!

[NekoChris]

34. I feel sorry..

..for the elderly. Period.

[angstlessk]

36. WHAT A PUTZ...you feel sorry for the elderly??? why cause they are OLD

WHAT ABOUT KIDS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE..YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THEM TOO??? FEEL SORRY...WHAT A LAME THING TO SAY! WHEN AT AGE 25 AN ELDERLY MAN MURDERS SAY...1,000 PE0PLE YOU FEEL SORRY FOR HIM WHEN HE IS 70??? AND NOT THE PEOPLE HE MURDERED WHO NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO GET ELDERLY IN ORDER TO FEEL YOUR SYMPATHY??? I THINK YOU ARE A NAZI?

[NekoChris]

42. I'm not saying he is exempt

from the law. He's clearly not. I just as an individual, feel sympathy for anyone who is elderly.

I also like how you end your comment 'I THINK YOU ARE A NAZI?' in a question mark. Very nice.

Caps lock is totally cruise control for cool. ;)

[ProSense]

37. But not for kids?

Sounds like an excuse to justify bigotry!

[NekoChris]

43. Not really.

It would be a lot easier for them to pick up and rebuild their lives, they have a good deal more ahead of them.

[ProSense]

44. That still doesn't address the issue at hand:

They have been here in this country most of their lives, they only know the U.S. There are a lot of issues being discussed, but what does arresting these particular students at a press conference accomplish? Your first response was: HAHAHAHAHAHA...good!

[NekoChris]

46. Initially

I found it pretty funny. I still kind of do. And that is more than a little nasty of me.

And after some, mostly, level headed discussion about the issue I have conceded some points and remained firm on others.

I do not believe illegals should get special treatment.

I do acknowledge the kids themselves directly did no wrong, but their parents did. Noone has been able to say why the parents should get to stay.

I do fully agree with the raised concept of a punishment/redemption style bill that was apparently put through and shot down. I am not a total jerk, if they can get some kind of repremand that's fine, and since they've broken no other laws or performed violent acts if there is a way to offer them a path to being legal citizens then they should be offered it. But they should not get the equal rights of valid citizens until such a time that they actually are.

[proud2BlibKansan]

61. You find arresting kids funny??

[NekoChris]

76. Once again your reactions astound but do not surprise me

It's very easy for you to rally behind illegal immigrants because you feel that everyone deserves freedom and a chance.

What I feel that people fail to grasp is the underlying issues here. The nonsense you make up about how I 'support' harboring nazi criminals; which I do not, I stated I felt for him because he was elderly and I feel sympathy for all elderly in bad situations because they are elderly, is clearly just a 'Look over there' because I'm willing to venture that when it comes down to a level headed, discussion about immigration, you will pretty much all fall silent because you have no ammunition to support it.

What benefit do we gain from illegal immigration?

What rights do people deserve who violate our laws to enter our country deserve?

What right to work do these people have when we have american born citizens who are jobless?

What reason do these immigrants have to get education funded by tax payers when probably they nor their parents are registered tax payers, because they are illegals?

I read a little on this 'Dream' act. Apparently all you have to do is say 'I have been here since I was 16' without any proof, and then you become immune to deportation while they handle your application and on top of that you get state funded tuitions to college? I had to scrounge and scavenge for my college money and I'm still hugely in debt, why should I pay more than someone who shouldn't be here in the first place? It's blanket amnesty in a sense because how are we to know how long anyone has been here? They're undocumented, they could sneak in at 19 and say they've been here 4 years. If you allow the children of illegals to participate in government programs than what procedures do you follow to stop the influx of immigrants who will abuse this? Popping out babies left and right is a pretty funny statement I tell you what but if you peel back the sarcasm; why wouldn't you want to enter a country, illegally, have a kid, and thus by having that kid become immune to deportation?

Now the people in this article may be different and not fall under every aspect of what is considered an illegal immigrant. Maybe they came here illegally and then went through steps to change that. I don't know their entire story.

I challenge the people reading this to provide me an intelligent arguement rather than rattling your sabers and throwing a temper tantrum.

The simple fact is that there are people, who are coming into the country, using methods that are against our laws despite how flawed they may be, they are OUR laws. Do you honestly think we're the only country like this either? Do you think you would get the same treatment if you went from here to there? Or from here to any country in South America? Europe? They'd ask to see your Visa, that you don't have? Oh let me take you to somewhere like, prison, until we can get you sent back home.

And on top of the fact they're coming here, they oft expect to be treated as equal citizens or BETTER. Better being that we work day after day and pay our taxes to make it through. They work, and likely work hard don't get me wrong, but probably are paid in non taxed straight cash, that they either keep or send out of the country to relatives. That's a double and even triple whammy. They take jobs americans could have, they send our money elsewhere, and they probably never paid the taxes on it on top that.

That's how I see it. Now, tell me why I'm wrong, and do it with a cool head and intelligent words.
If I was a republican, or Free Republic goon, I wouldn't be listening or caring about what you have to say. What makes me a democrat, is that I'll listen to what you have to say and discuss it.

[NekoChris]

47. And furthermore..

.. I'll even give you another point. I went and read the adjacent article from USAToday.

'The agents arrested Tran, his wife and son, charging them with being fugitives from justice even though the family's attorneys said the Trans have been reporting to immigration officials annually to obtain work permits.'

Those are not the actions of true illegals. They're actually telling people they're here, and moving through channels to do things correctly.

That is a /completely/ different and that is extremely dirty to do since they're going through the proper motions.

[LanternWaste]

92. Depends where they're rebuilding, doesn't it?

Depends where they're rebuilding, doesn't it?

[angstlessk]

19. SO you prefer old Nazi's to educated young mexicans...of course it is NOT racist

not not at All..how can you compare the two??? where did you dredge up the comparison??? you love 70 year old nazis???

[NekoChris]

26. Not at all.

My heart went out to him because I mean come on, the guy is 70. But, I understood the move despite how it seemed dirty in light of the rest of the things going on with immigration. And so I'll give you the card that it may be dirty pool to try to arrest the kids when technically, they themselves did no wrong. You won that one. But it doesn't excuse the underlying problem that there are people in the country who did not come here the right way, and they know that.

[angstlessk]

29. i dont feel sorry for 70 year old nazis...or 90 year old nazis for that matter

they lived their lives...while they snuffed out the lives of millions ..sorry..you did not touch my heart strings with his age..just makes me angrier because he lived so long in freedom..which he denied his victims!

[NekoChris]

31. Okay.

I'll give you that.

Except he was a dog trainer, he may not have ever killed anyone.

That aside sure, I can understand that.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

72. Oh, *accessory* to war crimes.

Much better. :sarcasm:

[LanternWaste]

93. Many of the Nazi's

Many of the Nazi's who were in the German Justice System didn't directly kill anyone either...

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. One of my former students

came here when she was 3 months old. She finished an LPN program in high school and graduated a certified LPN. (Which is an awesome achievement!) But she can't get into nursing school on a scholarship because she wasn't born here. She is an honor student, class valedictorian, but because HER PARENTS came here illegally, she can't get into college unless she wins the lottery or robs a bank.

Now please explain to me why that is fair. Why should a kid be punished for something her parents did? What mistakes did your parents make? Are you willing to pay the price for something THEY did??

[Danger Mouse]

69. you're advocating punishing the children for something beyond their control that isn't their fault?

:rofl:
i think you came to the wrong site. free republic misses you.

[fizzgig]

70. what's more

is that he advocates the harboring of nazi war criminals

[Danger Mouse]

73. i didn't know tom tancredo was a du'er!

[LanternWaste]

91. Love to see a link about masses of deported dog-trainers

Love to see a link about masses of deported dog-trainers. I'm thinking (it it's true at all) that you're disingenuously leaving out that oh, I dunno-- maybe they were S.S.?

And if it's neither masses of deported dog-trainers, or they were indeed S.S., then I must assume the Analogy section of the SAT's have been done away with...

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. Never mud wrestle a pig...(n/t)

[John Q. Citizen]

21. At least not for free.

[flashl]

39. Who is the thief?

Justice Delayed: Mexican-Americans Win Stolen Oil Rights

A Texas jury has ruled in favor of a Mexican-American family that had been fighting for decades to recover oil royalties from Padre Island. The case represents a historic victory for Mexican-Americans in the Southwest. Finally, they are gaining rights to the property they lost after the United States took over northern Mexico in 1848.

The Balli court ruling has tremendous implications for other Mexican-American families in the Southwest. The court system, which was so often used to help dupe Mexican-Americans out of their land, may now be their salvation.

Stealing land from LEGAL Hispanic citizens and illegally deporting them by the thousands was revealed recently in California court records. Family members have been fighting for more than 50 years to get their property returned.

Native Americans won hundreds of cases in court, but the U.S. would not acknowledge their lawsuits. Today, Native Americans are fighting this administration in court and they had won, but you guess it, this administration will not acknowledge they won.

edit:

U.S. urged to apologize for 1930s deportations

The deportation of Piña's family tells an almost-forgotten story of a 1930s anti-immigrant campaign. Tens of thousands, and possibly more than 400,000, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans were pressured — through raids and job denials — to leave the USA during the Depression, according to a USA TODAY review of documents and interviews with historians and deportees. Many, mostly children, were U.S. citizens.

[angstlessk]

48. Ya know, I used to believe in america..used to be a gung ho patriot

till I learned history written not by the victors, but by the victims...it changes much!

[flashl]

49. At one time, I was a history buff. I stopped because I could not read it any more. n/t

[pampango]

78. These "illegal immigrants" from Mexico and other Central American countries

have been coming to the US for decades with a wink and a nod from our country that what they were doing was not really "wrong". Their parents and grandparents made livings in the US, some staying to live here and some coming and going with the demands of our economy.

In the last 15 years the pace of this "immigration" has picked up as NAFTA has severely damaged the agricultural sectors of these countries. We have every right to enforce our borders and our immigration laws, but let's not look at those who are already here as some kind of sneaky criminals who broke into the country knowing full well that we did not welcome them here.

They had every reason to believe that there are "laws" and there are "laws". Some are "real" and enforced and others are not, perhaps for good reasons, and can be ignored. We may now feel that they had no right to decide which were the "real" laws, but in practice that is what had been happening for decades. Most came to our country knowing that it was "illegal", but that it was also mutually beneficial for themselves and their American employers.

Technically they broke the law, so if we wish to treat them as criminals that would be legal. As liberals I would hope that we could view their "crimes" in a more humane manner and treat them as human beings not as criminals.

[old guy]

13. Fascist!

[Danger Mouse]

71. Tancredo...against amnesty for the CHILDREN of illegal immigrants...

who can't even help the fact they were brought here.
the repukes might as well nominate him, if they're going for the asshole vote, they have no asshole bigger than tancredo.

[sakabatou]

86. Let's arrest everyone who's parents or ancestors were immigrants

That makes... over 300 million in jail! YAY!

[iamthebandfanman]

88. thats suprising ?

hes like the looniest of the whole bunch!

you can just smell the fascism coming from his pores just by watching him ;)