Students protest after HB 241
Illegal immigration measures provoke anger
By: Rochelle McConkie
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
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The group said the seven bills targeting undocumented immigrants represent the "death of the immigrant" and consequentially the "death of the American Dream."
Demonstrators participated in a candlelight vigil that lasted until after dark, expressing their opinions to legislators who were leaving their afternoon committee meetings and wearing signs saying "Sí se puede," or "Yes we can," and "Immigrants are pioneers." Students created an altar made of paper flowers, candles and a skeleton on top of a black trash bag in remembrance of this "death" and to represent efforts to fight against the legislation.
Chris Macias, a junior history major and organizer of the event, said the candles in the altar symbolize the light of undocumented individuals.
"We are the light of this community and the country," Macias said. "We are the light of tomorrow and today -- but we don't have to wait until tomorrow."
The vigil occurred a short time after House Bill 241, which would repeal in-state tuition for undocumented college students was tabled on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said he chose to postpone a vote on the bill because Chris Herrod, R-Provo, was absent from the floor. Herrod, a supporter of the bill, was gone because his wife was delivering a baby. Donnelson left the floor when his bill came up so that it would be automatically tabled. He then returned for the rest of the bills.
"I needed his vote," Donnelson said.
Last year, the same bill failed by one vote in the House because Herrod was absent. Donnelson said he didn't want that to happen again. HB 241 will come up again on the floor when Herrod comes back, he said, most likely on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Donnelson is sponsoring several anti-illegal immigration bills, all of which the demonstrating students oppose. Other bills would take away driving privilege cards of undocumented immigrants, empower state and local law enforcement officers to act as U.S. immigration agents, establish a Fraudulent Documents Identification Unit in the state attorney general's office and force public employers and contractors to use a federal online system to authenticate the immigration status of each employee.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Angelo Mancuso
posted 2/06/08 @ 5:06 AM MST
The issue of immigration is a matter that is enforced by the federal government, therefore it is also a matter that is required to be resolved by the federal government. (Continued…)
alphawolf61
posted 2/06/08 @ 5:23 AM MST
I think people have a difficult learning problem. A legal immigrant has the perrmision of the U.S. to be here. An undocumented illegal is one who Does not have permision to be here. (Continued…)
alphawolf61
posted 2/06/08 @ 6:02 AM MST
I just finished a post and read the first one.I am saying that by Government design,They want the illegal to come to this country! This has not been happening overnight, there is still no real security on the border! The citizens have got together and are trying, the border patrol is undermaned, sure congress just enacted something that said publicly 2000 INS agents,they funded 225 or thereabouts. (Continued…)
Binky
posted 2/06/08 @ 7:03 AM MST
Here's my proposal...A guest worker plan for all of the thousands of hard working immigrants who contribute to Utah's economy. In exchange, let's send all of are native born n'er-do-wells, criminals, personality disorders and other twits (that would include most politicians) to Mexico and see how they do. (Continued…)
Greg Wizer
posted 2/06/08 @ 12:04 PM MST
What don't people understand? It's ILLEGAL immgration we are against, NOT immigration as a whole. C'mon protestors, think a little. Unless you have some cure for the tremendous financial burden these people put on education and healthcare without paying any taxes. (Continued…)
Dan Judd
posted 2/06/08 @ 12:54 PM MST
The American dream is for Americans, not illegal immigrants, so these bills can only protect that dream, not do anything to harm it.
Illegal immigrants need to realize that it is illegal for them to be in the united states, it would also be illegal for them to protest since they aren't protected by the first amendment rights like an American would be. (Continued…)
Kenny in Utah
posted 2/06/08 @ 4:53 PM MST
I hope all those "anti-illegal immigration" bills pass! And those protesters are nothing but traitors to our country and idiots and need deportation right along with all the illegal invaders in our state! They can't even speak English, they also have to chant in Spanish so their invader buddies can understand what they are saying. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 2/06/08 @ 5:08 PM MST
Illegal immigrants getting better tuition deals than legal immigrants is a bunch of crap. People should not be rewarded for breaking the law. If people want to come to America let them do it legally. (Continued…)
Kenny in Utah
posted 2/07/08 @ 2:55 AM MST
Yo, Excuse me "Woh Joe!" You call the United States "occupied?" You're Hispanic right? Well then your ancestors "occupied" New Mexico, obviously land taken from the Native Indians! So you think you have more right than Anglos or Natives? I don't think so! And who's the racist cracker here? Cracker you say? You mean Whitey right? Hey Hispanics are as much European and Caucasian as Anglos, they are from Spain! And I might add that it was Hispanics that not only occupied much of what is now the USA, but also many of the nations south of so-called "Occupied" USA! Furthermore Hispanics aren't the only "race" who are illegal, illegal is illegal, regardless of race or national origin. (Continued…)
Hey WOW JOE!!
posted 2/07/08 @ 1:28 PM MST
My family too is Mexican and Prior to that they were Spanish...But guess what? Now they are Americans...They worked their butts off to legally become citizens. (Continued…)
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