Announced: Immigrant-Voter Drive, Another Rally - "National Lobby Day," and the Next Round of "Coordinated Street Marches"

More Arm Twisting by Illegal Aliens and Their Helpers

Past waves of immigrants came from across the ocean through Ellis Island where they were checked and approved before getting into the country. Then a rigorous assimilation program was used to create a citizenry with common goals and objectives. These new citizens voted for the good of the country. One wonders whether the drive to register and create new voters is for the good of the country, or to promote the interests of an ethnic or racial group, or for something else: a "progressive ideology." (Hint: "Progressive" is a code word for socialism.)

You haven't seen anything yet. The coalition has planned for May 17 as "National Lobby Day," and the use of churches, community centers, union halls, etc. as "immigrant justice centers." ("Justice" in this context, another code word for socialism.)

They're laying on the arm twisiting: Put this on your calendar -- the next coordinated street marches "will probably be in September."

I wouldn't mind as much if these were citizens. What galls is the fact that the majority are illegal aliens that are trying to force, to coerce me and my government into giving something that they may deserve: American citizenship.

American citizenship should be given only to those chosen few that prove their loyalty and worth to the United States. It is not a prize to had just for showing up, for being born to an illegal-alien mother, or for any other reason.

The same coalition of labor leaders, Latino activists, Catholic priests and radio deejays responsible for massive pro-immigrant demonstrations in Los Angeles described a new coordinated campaign on Tuesday that they hope will register 1 million new voters before the November elections.

Under the umbrella of the newly formed We Are America Alliance, organizers will make similar announcements in New York, Chicago and other cities, including a news conference in Washington on Wednesday. In Los Angeles, they gave details for the first time of a strategy voiced repeatedly during marches: "Ahora marchamos, mañana votamos" -- Today we march, tomorrow we vote.

"We need to reach out to our youth -- the first, second and third generation -- to make sure they vote," Spanish-radio deejay Renan Almendarez Coello, better known as "El Cucuy" or "The Bogeyman," said at a news conference.

Many of those who participated in the street protests cannot vote. About 60 percent of all Latinos in the United States are ineligible to vote because they are not citizens or because they are too young, according to the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California. Of those eligible, fewer than half vote regularly. Activists hope to encourage citizens who usually ignore elections to head to the ballot box, and they will push those who are almost citizens to complete their paperwork.

Immigrant advocates plan to collect postcards addressed to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) requesting a "path to citizenship" for immigrants. Immigrant leaders from several cities will converge on Washington on May 17, which they call "National Lobby Day," to deliver the cards and meet with their own congressional delegations.

The group hopes to influence senators working to craft new immigration laws before Memorial Day, said Angela Sanbrano, executive director of the Central American Resource Center. "The next two weeks are crucial for the immigration reform bill," she said.

House legislation would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally or to help illegal immigrants. The Senate has yet to pass its version of immigration legislation, but proposals under consideration include creation of a guest-worker program and a provision allowing those who have been in the country more than five years to apply for citizenship.

During the summer, immigrant advocates will encourage community organizations, union halls and churches across the country to become "immigrant action justice centers." Voter registration forms, citizenship information, letters addressed to politicians and phone numbers to call members of Congress will be available. The groups also plan to set up mobile information centers in high-traffic areas.

***The next nationally coordinated day of street marches probably will be in early September, said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, adding that "we might have to do it earlier."***

May 17 is "National Lobby Day. Make sure that theirs are not the only voices heard. Send your postcards to Senator Bill Frist,, J. Dennis Hastert, and your own representatives while we still can!!!