2006 United States immigration reform protests

In 2006, millions of people participated in protests over a proposed change to U.S. immigration policy. The protests began in response to proposed legislation known as H.R. 4437, which would raise penalties for Illegal immigration and classify illegal immigrants and anyone who helped them enter or remain in the US as felons. As part of the wider immigration debate, most of the protests not only sought a rejection of this bill, but also a comprehensive reform of the country's immigration laws that included a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants.

A major demonstration in Chicago on March 10, 2006 estimated at 100,000 people was the initial impetus for protests throughout the country.[1] The largest single demonstration occurred in Los Angeles on March 25, 2006 with a march of more than 500,000 people through downtown.[2] The largest nationwide day of protest occurred on April 10, 2006, in 102 cities across the country,[3][4] with 350,000-500,000 in Dallas and around 300,000 in Chicago.[5] Most of the protests were peaceful and attracted considerable media attention. Additional protests took place on May Day.

Contents

Role of Spanish-language media

Spanish-language media outlets, in particular Univision, Telemundo, Azteca America and various Spanish-language radio stations across the country, in large part aided in mobilizing people for the protests. Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, a Spanish-language radio personality from Los Angeles, persuaded eleven of his counterparts from Spanish-language radio stations based in Los Angeles to also rally listeners to attend planned protests.[6][7][8]

Controversy and backlash over flag symbolism and protests

The initial protests caused much controversy after some protesters waved Mexican and Central American flags instead of American flags. Various media outlets and columnists played up the contentious nature of displaying non-U.S. flags during the protests.[9] One particular incident referred to involved a protest at Montebello High School in California, where a Mexican flag was raised on a flagpole over a United States flag flying in the distressed (or upside-down) position.[10]

As part of the backlash over the protests and the controversy over the flag symbolism issue, a group calling themselves "Border Guardians" burned a Mexican flag in front of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona, on April 9, 2006.[11] The following day the group proceeded to burn two Mexican flags during protest in Tucson which was estimated to have had 15,000 participants. After the police seized a student who had thrown a water bottle at the "Border Guardians", they followed the police officers calling for them to let the student go. As the situation escalated violence broke out and 6 were arrested with dozens being pepper-sprayed. The next day the police arrested the leader of the Border Guardians, Roy Warden, for charges including assault and starting a fire in a public park.

Because of the controversy, organizers of the protests encouraged protesters to leave their Mexican flags at home, with Cardinal Roger Mahony telling Los Angeles protesters to not fly any flag other than the United States flag because, "...they do not help us get the legislation we need."[12] As a result of this controversy later protests featured fewer Mexican flags and more protesters carrying American flags.[13] This fact, though, did not end the controversy over the protests, with conservative blogger Michelle Malkin questioning the statements on signs held by some protesters, describing them as "racist" and "anti-American".[14]

In addition, California's Oceanside Unified School District banned flags and signs from its campuses after "Mexican flag-wavers clashed with U.S. flag-wavers."[9]

Backlash

The Washington Post recently reported that, in one U.S. town, a day labor center at which suspected illegal immigrants congregated was closed and its mayor and two aldermen were voted out of office as a result of immigration concerns.[15][16]

Membership in the Minuteman Project increased due in part to backlash from the protests.[17] On May 3, responding to the May 1 boycotts, the Minutemen embarked on a caravan across the United States in an effort to bring attention to a perceived need for border enforcement. The caravan was expected to reach Washington D.C. on May 12.

Regarding the Tucson-based anti-immigration movement: In 2006 the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote: "Roy Warden, 59, emerged this spring as one of the country's most controversial, volatile, and, many believe, dangerous characters of the anti-immigration movement."[18]

Timeline

March

April

May

Legislation

H.R. 4437 (The Border Protection, Anti terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005) was passed by the United States House of Representatives on December 16, 2005 by a vote of 239 to 182. It is also known as the "Sensenbrenner Bill," for its sponsor in the House of Representatives, Jim Sensenbrenner. H.R. 4437 was seen by many as the catalyst for the 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 previously gave "amnesty" to 2.7 million illegal aliens. Proponents said this 1986 amnesty would end America's illegal immigration problem.

The companion bill passed by the United States Senate is S. 2611, which never passed conference committee. The House Republican leadership, stated that it rejects S. 2611 wholly and will pass legislation that only addresses border security. The end of the 109th Congress marked the death of this bill.

Kennedy ruling

The USA Supreme Court on June 16, 2008, per ponente Justice Kennedy ruled (5-4) "that someone who is here illegally may withdraw his voluntarily agreement to depart and continue to try to get approval to remain in the United States." The lawsuit is about 2 seemingly contradictory provisions of immigration law. One prevents deportation by voluntary departure from the country. The other sectition allows immigrants who are here illegally but whose circumstances changed to build their case to immigration officials, and must remain in the US. In the case, Samson Dada, a Nigerian citizen, overstayed beyond the expiration of his tourist visa in 1998. Immigration authorities ordered him to leave the country as he agreed to leave voluntarily, to allow his legal re-entry than if he had been deported.[51][52]

Organizations

The following organizations mobilized from hundreds (FAIR) to millions of people (Great American Boycott) around immigration reform in the United States during 2006.

Recruiting Methods

Typically anti illegal mmigration movements focus on Grassroots recruiting tactics; the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps and Minuteman Project use these methods to boost membership. After the 2006 immigration reform protest membership in anti-immigration movement participation increased by 600%.[53]

Cooperation between anti-illegal immigration groups

Anti-illegal immigration groups often do not pursue the same agenda in the same ways; however, they do form Coalitions when their agendas match other movements. One of the major joint efforts that these groups engage in is access to mailing lists for individuals who have donated money in the past to support the movement; Federation for American Immigration Reform and Minutemen Civil Defense Corps have shared lists of mailers with one another in recent years.[53]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Watanabe, Teresa; Becerra, Hector (March 26, 2006), "500,000 Pack Streets to Protest Immigration Bills; The rally, part of a massive mobilization of immigrants and their supporters, may be the largest L.A. has seen.", Los Angeles Times: A1, http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/26/local/me-immig26 
  3. ^ Updated 64 minutes ago (2006-03-25). "500,000 rally immigration rights in L.A. - Politics - msnbc.com". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11442705/. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
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  7. ^ Melissa Block, NPR-All Things Considered: "Spanish D.J. Organizes Immigration-Reform Protests" March 28, 2006
  8. ^ NPR-Day to Day: "Immigration Protests, Part 1: Spanish-Language Media" April 7, 2006
  9. ^ a b "The foreign flag rule" by Clarence Page, The Baltimore Sun, April 14, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2006.
  10. ^ Student punished for American flag incident by Tracy Garcia, Whittier Daily News, April 1, 2006, and "The American Flag Comes Second" by Michelle Malkin, posted March 29, 2006 01:15 AM. Both accessed April 14, 2006.
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  14. ^ "The Signs You Don't See..." by Michelle Malkin, posted April 11, 2006 12:14 PM. Retrieved April 14, 2006.
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  19. ^ Yvonne Wingett and Daniel González, Immigrants protested in Valley, cities across U.S., The Arizona Republic, March 28, 2006
  20. ^ Thousands in Phoenix at Immigration Rally | NSHP - National Society for Hispanic Professionals
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  23. ^ "Reagan HS principal resigns - Houstonist: Houston News, Food, Arts & Events". Archived from the original on 2009-08-11. http://houstonist.com/2006/05/04/reagan_hs_princ.php. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
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  26. ^ sandiego.indymedia.org |Zapatista rally & march Chicano Park
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  29. ^ Protestors Rally Against Immigration Changes - News Archive Story - WCVB Boston
  30. ^ "Multimedia story archive | The Post and Courier". Charleston.net. http://www.charleston.net/stories/?section=localnews&newsID=80808. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
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  33. ^ Thousands march for immigration rights
  34. ^ http://www.thewakeupamericafoundation.com/000waf-events.shtml Archived April 4, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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  38. ^ Bush Says Anthem Should Be in English
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  42. ^ The Global Report
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  45. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County - 200 officers clear streets in Vista after reported riot
  46. ^ Aftermath of the Mayday Immigration Walk-Out
  47. ^ LA Observed: Police fighting with protesters at MacArthur Park *
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  49. ^ [1] Archived September 27, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ News: New voice joins minuteman caravan - OCRegister.com
  51. ^ supremecourt.gov, Dada vs. Mukasey, No 06-1181, June 16, 2008
  52. ^ ap.google.com, Top court eases rules for foreigners to try to stay in US Archived October 29, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ a b Larsen, Solana The Anti-Immigration Movement: From Shovels to Suits. NACLA news, 09 May 2007. Web. 9 Nov. 2009 http://news.nacla.org/2007/05/09/the-anti-immigration-movement-from-shovels-to-suits

External links