Small, vocal rally in Raleigh opposes illegal immigration

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/446881.html

Janell Ross, Staff Writer

RALEIGH - There were placards and police officers, a bullhorn and even a flying burrito -- all signs of a grass-roots protest led by people passionate about the need to secure the country's southern border and impede illegal immigration.

The rally, organized by a group known as Standing on Secure Borders, or SOS Borders, drew about 35 people Saturday to the sidewalk in front of the Mexican Consulate on Six Forks Road. It was part of a national event, Hands Along the Border, organized by a coalition of mostly conservative-leaning organizations, such as the Minute Men Civil Defense Corps, Family Security Matters, Homemakers for America and Latino Americans for Immigration Reform.

Groups gathered along the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona, at state capitol buildings, at the Mexican Embassy in Washington and at Mexican Consulates in Atlanta, Orlando and Boston to encourage U.S. lawmakers to use military or civilian forces to strengthen border security.

Some also wanted to capture the attention of the Mexican government and the public, said Nancy LaNeve, a Haw River resident who helped coordinate the Raleigh rally.

"Illegal immigration is a serious problem," LaNeve said, "and we need to act like it."

The Raleigh consulate sat dark, a sign with the word "CERRADO" (CLOSED) on the door. Consulate officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.

State legislators have introduced bills calling for employers and law enforcement officers to make reasonable attempts to find out if a potential employee or person under arrest is in the country legally.

But at Saturday's rally, some complained that business interests have bought legislative inaction with campaign contributions. They waved signs bearing slogans such as "Immigrant Invasion" and "Stop Illegal Immigration at the Border."

Several passing drivers honked or let out cries of support. One driver cursed at the protesters, while another flung an oversized burrito at one of the signs.

Ray Kerns came from Lillington because he is troubled by what he described as the drain illegal immigrants place on public welfare, health and other systems.

"They are sucking our social services dry," said Kerns, who was holding an American flag.

Susanna Scilard of Raleigh was on her way to a nearby grocery store when she stopped to join the rally. Like others, she had heard about the event all week on conservative talk radio programs.

Scilard came to the United States from Hungary in 1950. Her family spent years preparing for the transition, learning the language, addressing minor health problems, passing criminal background checks and finding a sponsor who promised to employ her father.

"I am not against the immigrant. Obviously I am one of them," she said. "But immigrants need to go through the system."

Slade Long, a woodworker from Lillington who once lived in California, said the need to secure the nation's southern border couldn't be more clear. Illegal immigration made it difficult to make a living in the construction trades in Southern California, he said. Now the same is happening here, he said.

"People, the general public out there, they are going to start to care when it hits them right here," he said, holding up his wallet.

Staff writer Janell Ross can be reached at 829-4698 or jross@newsobserver.com.