Seattlest: Gunning For Canadians

TroyJMorris

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:44:40 -0800

It's like the Irish Invasion all over again!

Dan

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:00:27 -0800

Just got an email: Statement from Mayor Greg Nickels regarding today’s press conference on immigration raids: “Over the last few years, throughout our country, the Department of Homeland Security has stepped up its campaign to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, using raids to detain them. These raids have a devastating affect on families. Immigrant workers live in fear and children are seeing their parents taken away. “These raids do not address the root causes of our immigration issues. Only safe and humane immigration policies can do that. The American public agrees. Last April, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that 78 percent of respondents think that illegal immigrants, currently residing in this country, should be given a chance for citizenship. “If these raids continue, I urge federal officials to at least safeguard the rights and well-being of the dependents of those detained -- many of these dependents are children who are U.S. citizens. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can work with schools, human service providers, child protective service agencies, and others to ensure the safety of these innocent children. “We have two choices. President Bush and Congress can continue leaving millions of undocumented immigrants in the shadow of our society unable to realize the full benefits of their labor. Or they can adopt comprehensive reform and give undocumented immigrants a reasonable path to legalization and citizenship. I call on the president and our congressional leaders to make the right choice.”

Saxtor

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:43:55 -0800

One day on my way home from Mount Baker, I stopped in the Northfork Brewery to have dinner and struck up a conversation with a self-described "old school" border patrol guard stationed in the area. He was almost in tears telling about how much freedom and leeway he had at his former post on the Mexico border, and how different it is on the Canada border. He told stories of beatings, pistol-whippings and general lawlessness he participated in on the Mexico border, how different it is on the Canadian border and how much more difficult of a time he has doing his job. I asked him about the Minutemen, and he told me that they don't really do much on the Canadian border, but they were instrumental on the Mexico border. I feigned courtesy and respect (he was buying me beers after all), but the guy was quite despicable.