Sunday, November 01, 2009

Anti-illegal-immigration group draws controversy


"Buoyed by conservative support and undaunted by criticism, Botwin says his group is gearing up for the immigration reform debate."There's an old saying from Mahatma Gandhi -- first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," Botwin said. "Now they're fighting us." --excerpted.

[This article currently gets 377 web hits after 2 days for wire-service pick up on papers and blogs!]

Anti-illegal-immigration group draws controversy


By TINA IRGANG, Capital News Service

Published 11/01/09

WASHINGTON - Brad Botwin has been called an extremist and even a Nazi.
Others say he is an asset to the discourse on illegal immigration in the state, and Botwin himself maintains he is merely a concerned citizen asking questions about how the government spends his taxes.


In just two and a half years, Help Save Maryland, the anti-illegal immigrant group Botwin founded, has grown from a small protest movement in Rockville to a statewide organization with volunteer coordinators in almost every county. The organization protests at day labor centers, attends public meetings, publishes a blog and sends out regular newsletters.

Botwin said Help Save Maryland counts roughly 2,000 members, and organizes its protests and appearances mostly by e-mail.Illegal immigration is likely to become the subject of contentious national debate in coming months, as Congress is expected to take up immigration reform after finishing the current health care reform effort.

Representatives from both parties have said reform must address illegal immigration and make sure visa quotas align with employer needs.But Botwin said his group is ready to fight reform: "Right now our position is: the system isn't broken."

Help Save Maryland was founded in response to the opening of a day labor center in Gaithersburg in 2007. Botwin said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett built the center contrary to popular opposition."He just took it upon himself to plop it on county land without any public hearings," Botwin said. "This was an egregious act on his part and that just prompted me to start this group."

Patrick Lacefield, a spokesman for Leggett, said: "It's a free country and we understand that they think what they think, but basically our feeling is that in Montgomery County, we value our diversity, we value our immigrants."

Help Save Maryland garnered national attention this spring, when Alabama-based non-profit The Southern Poverty Law Center listed it among 'nativist extremist groups,' a category that stops short of the label 'hate group,' which the center awards to overtly racist organizations.A nativist extremist group, Southern Poverty Law Center spokeswoman Heidi Beirich said, is usually an "aggressive anti-immigration group."

"They're not necessarily groups going out and using slurs," Beirich said. "But these are organizations that don't debate policy -- they don't lobby their legislators or have what we would call a civil and democratic debate. They're people that get in the face of immigrants and confront people rather than legislators."

Botwin, who is Jewish, said he views the listing as an "anti-Semitic act against me.""We're not radicals. We are all tax-paying, working American citizens, all walks of life, every ethnic group, every nationality, we've got them," Botwin said. "We are just questioning what our elected officials are doing with our money on this issue."

One of Help Save Maryland's tax-paying members is Pree Glenn-Graves, a coordinator for Prince George's County. Glenn-Graves says she joined Help Save Maryland after her husband lost his home improvement business. She said the business failed because her husband was unable to compete with cheaper rates offered by businesses using illegal labor.

"If he was willing to do a job for $4,000, illegal immigrants would do it for $1,500."Glenn-Graves said she seeks to raise awareness of the effects of illegal immigration on Prince George's County's black community.

"None of our children are hired by McDonald's or KFC because they can pay illegals below the minimum wage," Glenn-Graves said. "Even though we're the ones paying taxes, our children aren't the ones getting jobs."

KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow responded, saying, "KFC's policy is to comply with all state and federal employment laws, including only hiring individuals who can verify their legal status and right to work in the United States."

McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said: "As an employer, we do not knowingly hire or employ undocumented or unauthorized workers. McDonald?s USA has strict policies in place regarding hiring and employment practices -- this includes, abiding by all applicable local, state and federal employment laws."

Among Help Save Maryland's most active members is Steve Berryman, a coordinator for Frederick County. Berryman writes the group's blog and is a regular contributor to other regional blogs. He describes himself as Libertarian-leaning and a member of the "NRA Grassroots movement."Berryman said Brad Botwin asked him to become involved in the group after he had read some of his writing.

Berryman was happy to join Help Save Maryland because "my views coincide with (Botwin's) very closely."The Help Save Maryland coordinators, Berryman said, "act as a communication nexus. We will pass along information about protests or speaking opportunities on e-mail chains, which are sometimes different by region."

Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins has spoken at several events organized by Help Save Maryland. The group, Jenkins said, supports his participation in 287(g), a government program allowing local police to enforce federal immigration laws. Frederick County is the only participating jurisdiction in Maryland."Steve (Berryman) has been supportive by calling in to talk radio shows, making public comments, writing letters to the editor, things like that," Jenkins said.

Help Save Maryland also cooperates with People for Change in Prince George's County, a predominantly African-American organization that lobbies for government accountability. The group describes itself as non-partisan, but it has expressed strongly conservative positions on issues such as immigration and gay marriage.

"The black community is really picking up on the illegal immigration issue," Botwin said. "When I told some of the members of People for Change that Prince George's Community College was running a training program for illegal alien day laborers, training them to be construction workers, the report back from the crowd was: 'We don't see very many black construction workers anymore.'"

Deirda Hill, director of PGCC's marketing department, said the college checks immigration status for all students who take classes for credit. If a potential student does not seek credit, the college asks only for a local address.

Help Save Manassas, another Help Save Maryland affiliate, was an inspiration for his own group, although the two rarely coordinate their protests, Botwin said.Help Save Manassas founder Greg Letiecq is known for the frequently inflammatory statements he makes on his blog, Black Velvet Bruce Li. In a recent blog post, Letiecq referred to President Obama as "Dear Leader," a title used by North Koreans for that country's chief, Kim Jong-Il.

Help Save Maryland's ire is mostly directed at immigrant advocacy groups such as CASA de Maryland and Identity Inc., and by extension liberal Democratic politicians who support them.
Still, Candace Kattar, Identity Inc.'s executive director, said she has found members of Help Save Maryland to be courteous at public meetings they have attended."I think they have a very singular issue, which is to get rid of undocumented people," Kattar said. "So if there are discussions about any issue, the question is always whether or not the individual is undocumented."


Others have reacted more strongly to the group's often confrontational rhetoric."The general perspective of the group seems very hostile," said Bruce Adams, director of the Office of Community Partnerships in Montgomery County. "The county executive is dedicated to building the nation's most multicultural community, and so the work of this group really undermines our ability to do that."

Maryland Delegate Victor Ramirez, D-Prince George's, said he calls the group "Help Divide Maryland.""They're spreading hate and disruption," Ramirez said. "Until they become more reasonable and stop preaching division and hate, I don't see how they're adding anything to the conversation or the solution."

Delegate Ben Barnes, D-Prince George's, has written two letters opposing Help Save Maryland. In the most recent, published Oct. 8, Barnes wrote: "This type of divisive and offensive rhetoric has no place in our rich diverse community and has been used by the right wing for far too long."On the other side of the political spectrum, many conservative delegates support the group.

Delegate Susan Krebs, R-Carroll, said: "Their contribution has been to try to get the facts out about the impact of illegal immigration on schools, services, budgets and health care. Those discussions need to occur.""They've testified in favor of a number of my bills, and they're always well-prepared," said Delegate Patrick McDonough, R-Baltimore County, who has introduced several pieces of legislation to limit services to illegal immigrants. "They're a great asset, and I wish there were a lot more of them all around the state."

Buoyed by conservative support and undaunted by criticism, Botwin says his group is gearing up for the immigration reform debate."There's an old saying from Mahatma Gandhi -- first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," Botwin said. "Now they're fighting us."

TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO LET CONGRESS KNOW THAT WE OPPOSE HEALTH CARE FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!

US SENATE - I want to invite you to join Senator Barbara Mikulski for a special statewide conference call Monday, November 2nd.Senator Mikulski will discuss health reform legislation as new momentum surges in support behind reform. Get the latest updates on where the legislation stands, what it contains, and where we go from here.RSVP to the call now -- when you sign up at the link provided, you'll be sent a call-in number and passcode to join the call. Here are the details:


What: Conference Call about Health Reformwith Senator Barbara MikulskiWhen: Monday, November 2nd3:00-3:30 p.m. EasternConference call information will be sent to everyone who RSVPs

On the conference call, you'll hear about OFA's recent successes in Maryland and how you can get involved. And you'll get a special briefing from Senator Mikulski and have a chance to ask her questions. http://md.barackobama.com/MikulskiCC


US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Sent: Sat, October 31, 2009 11:58:44 AMSubject: Michelle Bachman wants us to walk with her inside the capital and tell them NO WAY ON THIS HEALTH CARE OR NO VOTES FOR THEM. ALSO VETS DAY FOR ALL VETS AND FAMILIES. STARTING AT 8 AM.
Media and Patriots..

Michelle Bachman will hold a protest rally against obama care on November 5th at 12 noon on the capital steps in dc.

http://logisticsmonster.com/2009/10/30/michelle-bachman-a-call-to-storm-the-capitol-on-november-5th-2009/

Patriots,Rep Michele Bachmann, R-MN has just announced a "storm the capitol" next Thursday, November 5th at 12:00 Noon.This appears to be in conjunction with Vets For Freedom action that is occurring the same day.......see PFA homepage.Any and everyone that can make it to the US Capitol, Washington, DC to meet Rep Bachmann on the Capitol steps at 12:00 noon is desperately needed.


The goal is have hundreds or thousands show up and walk with Rep Bachman through the US Capitol advising Representatives to reject the House of Representatives Healthcare Bill.........
If the HealthCare Bill Pelosi announced on Wednesday is passed, Rep Bachmann said, "it will be the crown jewel of socialism" in America.......everyone will be forced into a single payer, government run healthcare program.......


I am personally urging, pleading, for everyone to give this request the most serious consideration....if you can possibly be in DC and meet Rep Bachmann on the US Capitol steps at 12:00 Noon, please, please do it.....

www.HelpSaveMaryland.com

Forward email


Help Save Maryland PO Box 5742 Rockville MD 20855



http://tinyurl.com/ykb9fa2

5 Comments:

Blogger Brittanicus said...

I don't think the American people understand that--IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT--is not supposed to be the absolute deterrent? Immigration enforcement is only supposedly--SEEN--to be working? Then when it does, like E-Verify, 287 G, ICE raids the pro-illegal alien forces start lobbying the already corrupt politicians to dilute the laws. Same with the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act, that its enforcement became obscured by distractions from its main purpose. AMNESTY--for those people who were legalized and all those who came after--immediate deportation? In appearance it looked like it was functioning, but it left a trail of fraud. Millions poured into America during that time offering deceptive documents expressing they had been resident in this country for 5 years. Ending up with the US government unable to handle the extra 3 million who appeared mysteriously from nowhere? Any new Amnesty will create another multi-million rush for the border, once President Obama declares this message. Previous Guest Workers once legalized disappeared from agriculture and took other jobs and increased unemployment for our own men, women, seniors and even our young folk. Neither side of the political cauldron has accepted the blame, for allowing millions of foreign national converging on a lax border. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE ALREADY BLED US DRY, WHAT MORE CAN WE GIVE...?

It really is just a mirage regarding immigration, because Wall Street and the mega companies have no intentions of letting go of cut price labor. The wealthy employers don't live in the same dimension as the average American, who lives with criminal alien activity and taxed continually to support not only the illegal immigrant occupancy but corporate welfare that benefits the 20 to 30 million illegal settlers. Lately American anti-illegal immigration, pro-sovereignty factions are achieving small triumphs? Alerted people have erupted in their constituencies, rousing their voices at 202-224-3121 in Washington. THE PEOPLE –stopped dead the tabling of E-verify, which is now funded for another 3 years. However we must keep continuously watch as HS head Janet Napolitano has already moderated the local police policy 287 G. My observations suggest to me that--ALL THIS WEAKENING--of immigration enforcement is leading up to the Democratic Representative from Chicago Luis V. Gutierrez, to commence the devastating push for another AMNESTY or as it’s called a path to citizenship.

How any of these political pawns can even construed this represents the majority of the American people? My sense is they will use deceptive means to achieve their goal; if at all? The economy is in dire straights, there are approximately 15 million legal populace jobless and are they really intending to force through some form of AMNESTY? The growing grassroots organizations need more patriotic reinforcements to repeatedly call their politicians, who are supposedly protecting American workers, keeping our nation from irreversible OVERPOPULATION that will condemn us to third world density in large cities and communities. We cannot continue to absorb millions of impoverished, poorly skilled individuals. We have for decades which our elected representatives have ignored and introduced a serious balkanization through illegal usurpers who remain un-assimilated, refuse to learn our language and introduced a host incorrigible third world logic, not patterned on the way the multitude of abiding citizens see our culture, life style and values.

10:45 PM, November 01, 2009  
Blogger Brittanicus said...

An example is the killing of animals in backyards for some ritual sacrifice. On a grand scale driving while drunk and ending the life's of whole families on the highways or pedestrians. Underage ravishment of children, accepted as the norm in many foreign lands. Superiority over women that has marked Middle Eastern men, that disregard human rights, including the ending a life because of dishonor to the family. There are many innocuous instances of female genitalia mutilation, consistent with customs of countries that still exist in archaic corners of our world? Foreigners come to our nation and demand us as a nation; our people comply with their compliances, not the reverse. In Europe a major problem is arising regarding extreme religious beliefs, which is a danger to the Judeo-Christian culture from the mass immigration from countries that have been in upheaval for thousands of years. We live in a country of moderation, freedom of thought and speech given to us by the founding fathers. WE MUST FIGHT BACK OR WE WILL BE IN-PERPETUITY PAYING FOR EVERY ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSER. TOURIST VISA OVERSTAY? OUR VOTING PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY NO IDENTIFYING DOCUMENTS NEEDED OR OVERSIGHT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS. NOW THE MOST BASIC LAW OF COUNTING THOSE PERMANENTLY RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE COMPROMISED BY THE ENUMERATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, UNLESS SEN. VITTER CAN FORCE AN AMENDMENT INTO THE 2010 DECENNIAL CENSUS? If these questions are not asked it is certain that--ALL--these illegal aliens will be counted in the census and small states will lose billions of dollars in federal funds to states infamously designated as SANCTUARY STATES such as CALIFORNIA and gain Congressional seats (and electoral college votes) due to this counting of illegal aliens.

Why Europe is stomaching foreign immigrants dictating to Parliaments, the church is beyond my understanding, because it will eventually turn its population against these ideologies. The same as in the United States where trouble is already stirring, relating to another obnoxious possibility of BLANKET AMNESTY that is accepted by the US census bureau as a harbinger of population growth without restraints? It’s a premeditated fraud on the American people, as it was in 1986. It is being imposed upon us to fill the pockets of stockholders, investments to ream the pockets in companies nationwide. It's another avenue to lower the wages of US working men and women, to stealthily bring the free flow of access labor into our country? Read more at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB for the abhorrent truth, not the propaganda of the Internationalists who are indifferent to our population.

10:46 PM, November 01, 2009  
Anonymous Vic Henderson said...

"We must secure the existence of our people and a future for OUR children" Don't allow our country to be polluted

1:12 PM, November 02, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

leticia olalia morales of 15501 pasadena ave #8 tustin ca 92780 submitted fake employment records to obtain a work visa. she also used fake bank documents and paid 5000.00 dollars to get a US tourist visa. she also used fake ss documents to work at target stores in santa ana ca in1987-90. she is now applying for naturalization.

5:21 AM, April 19, 2010  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ronald bola of 12764 newport ave #d tustin ca 92780 married and paid a US citizen to obtain a green card. he also used fake documents to get a tourist visa and work at power circuits between 1987-93. he is now a naturalized citizen.

3:38 PM, April 19, 2010  

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