More on redwood city minutemen rally and the counter rally

ICE raids prove divisive
By Dana Yates

Dana Yates/Daily Journal
Residents from across the Bay Area came to Redwood City Saturday to rally in support of Border Patrol agents and a plan to close the borders. Latino residents began protesting across the street, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and El Camino Real.

Two groups rallying against each other over the issue of national immigration reform vied for the attention of passing cars and pedestrians at one of Redwood City’s busiest intersections Saturday.
Members of the San Francisco and East Bay Minutemen Project along with members of Let Freedom Ring and the East Bay Coalition for Border Security came dressed in red, white and blue and waved flags at the northeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and El Camino Real.

Approximately 75 came from around the Bay Area, many from Redwood City, to rally in support of Border Patrol agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos, who shot at a Mexican national trying to cross the border illegally in 2005.

The 2005 case of Compean and Ramos added fuel to the red-hot debate over illegal immigrants and border control. Here at home, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted surprise sweeps for illegal immigrants two weeks ago. The ICE action sparked concern among Redwood City’s heavily Latino community who feared deportation of family members. At least seven people were picked-up and taken away, most likely to be shipped off to their home country. Families were left behind, left to deal with the aftermath of a missing mother, father, sister or brother.

“ICE is doing their job. Someone who is here illegally is here illegally and you need to know you can be caught at any time,” said Melissa Gardner, a Sacramento member of Let Freedom Ring. “I don’t fault people for trying to get into this country. I know these people are poor, but we can’t support everyone in the world.”

Word of the anti-immigration rally spread quickly and Latinos began to congregate across the street, at the southeast corner of the same intersection. With home made signs, a Mexican flag and a loudspeaker, the group shouted for equality among all residents and a reasonable solution to allow people from other countries an opportunity to succeed in America.

“I can’t see how they can envision a human being being illegal,” said Arturo Blanco.

While the Minutemen Project focuses on border issues, they didn’t hide the fact that they chose Redwood City for their rally because its recent raids were highly publicized. They are trying to build a stronger Peninsula membership, said Redwood City resident Buck Shaw.

“There are a lot of conservatives here that are just out numbered,” Shaw said.

Shaw and others said they understood the dreams and hopes that immigrants have, but they don’t want illegal immigrants offered opportunities at the cost of legal citizens.

The fact that schools and counties are paying money to create programs to keep children and their families healthy regardless of legal status frustrates Shaw. While it eases the pressure on local emergency rooms to deal with seriously ill patients, it still ends up costing taxpayers more money, he said.

A man once crashed his car into Shaw’s front yard. The man swore he had insurance but told a police officer otherwise and when Shaw’s insurance company tried to locate the man, they found the address on the police report traced back to a vacant house. There was no way to seek retribution for repairs and the deductible was so high that Shaw ended up paying out of his own pocket for repairs.

“It’s that kind of stuff that pisses everyone off,” Shaw said.

Mike Jones spent 35 years as a carpenter only to make less money now then he did in 1989. His union was forced to scale back benefits and salary to compete with illegal immigrants. He makes $37 an hour now, down from $40 in 1989, he said.

There is no lack of young and eager kids looking to get into the business, but not because there’s no future — no raises, said Jones, who has an 18-year-old son who he’s told not to enter the industry.

The Latino crowd argues it is not asking for handouts and no one disagrees that criminals — the type that steal, deal drugs or hurt people — should face the law. The ones who work hard without causing trouble should be offered some sort of amnesty.

“I think the government has the right to do what it’s doing, but it divides families,” said Vladimir Mendoza of Redwood City. “Anyone who is a good citizen should have a chance.”

Mendoza, 26, immigrated legally to the United States with his family when he was 9. His father was a teacher in Mexico and the family was considered middle class, but the 1990s economy in that country made it difficult to live. The family was able to pay the money to come here legally — something most families cannot afford, Mendoza said.

Mendoza works while making his way through college. His dream is to graduate from Stanford University with a graduate degree in psychology.

Even that may not help him mend the great divide in his community. He was, however, able to find some common ground.

“Everyone comes here for the same reason, with the same dreams.”


Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana [at] smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters [at] smdailyjournal.com.

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