Two cities, two very different climates for illegal immigrants.
In San Bernardino, what began as a one-man crusade has turned into a movement pushing for one of the strictest anti-illegal immigrant laws in the country.
(click to view map)
Sixty miles away, officials in the tiny, working-class community of Maywood have declared the city a "sanctuary" for undocumented residents.
In the highly charged national debate over illegal immigration, both cities have made headlines -- and inspired other cities -- with their divergent stances. The common thread between them is a shared frustration with a lack of immigration reform at the federal level.
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Comments
Laurel, 2006-09-18 10:41:24 -- Flag for review
Your portrayal of Mexican "ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS" as victims, is an insult to the citizens of this country and "LEGAL IMMIGRANTS" from all over the world! Most of your Immigration stories have warped the issues of "illigal immigration" to portray the Mexican illegal immigrants as victims.
Where are the stories about Me? My neighbors? My friends? My co-workers? We are all "Immigrants"! But very LEGAL Immigrants! We are the victims! We waited in our countries, followed the laws and came to the US when we were legally allowed to do so. Most of us have family members that wish to come to Americe.
Potential immigrants from other countries other than Mexico abides by the Immigration Laws. Why does the media stories are so overwhelmingly sympathetic to Mexican illegal immigrants for breaking the US Immigration Laws? It's as if Mexican illegal immigrants should be granted immunity from the US Immigration Laws. But all other countries MUST abide by these same laws.
These laws are strict for specific reasons and to allow for fairness to ALL countries. Many immigrants from around the world will never realize their dreams to come to Ammerica, because they are law abiding people, and does not engae in or advocate breaking the Immigration Laws of the United States.
Laws are to be respected. For instance can you imagine what would happen on the freeways if everyone from a "particular category" was allowed to constantly and blatently engaged in reckless driving? In order to be fair to everyone, the traffic laws applies to everyone, and those that are caught breaking the laws are punished in one way or another. They may not agree with the traffic officer when they're stopped, but the merely enforcs the law, and if someone disagree with the traffic officer they can challenge it in court. That's why this country is great! Not because Mexican illegal immigrants invades the US borders, attacks the border patrol officers and migrates to the US illegally.
For people like you to portray these Mexican illegals as victims is a travesty.
Please answer why should the Mexican ILLEGAL immigrants break the laws of this country and be allowed to blatently get away with it. Not to mention the fact that all of us must pay for the education, medical expenses, and housing of illegal families, while we're unable to pay for our own children and elderly social progrms.
The laws SUPPORTING illegal immigrant families are so much more liberal than those for citizens and legal immigrants, it's frustrating, disgraceful and makes us irate!
And of ourse there's the issue of language. The ILLEGAL immigrants adamently refuses to assimilate and speak english, but they have no sharme in going to the welfare offices or the free hospitals to demand their rights to receive services that citizens and legal immigrants CAN NOT get!
Where are your crusade and emotional stories about the indigent Americans who are living in poverty, and have lived in poverty all their lives, and most likely will die in poverty?
American citizens and legal residents are the silent MAJORITY! But that doesn't mean they like what's going on around them with illegal immigration.
The citizens and legal residents of this country respects everyone's rights, and hope everyone will adhere to the laws, thus prevent cahos. Most are not groupies, and don't march on the streets holding banners. If they decide to become an advocate of "legal immigration" you and the majority of the media will be quick to label them as "RACIST". WOULD THAT BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JOURNALISM????
Richard N., 2007-02-23 13:26:20 -- Flag for review
Compelling issue.
Compelling story.
Nice job of reporting!