Oregonians for Immigration Reform

PO Box 1438, McMinnville OR 97128

Telephone:  503-435-0141

Internet:  www.oregonir.org    Email:  o4ir@excite.com

 

OFIR Newsletter, October 2006

 

 

Meeting Announcement -- The next regular meeting of Oregonians for Immigration Reform will be held on Saturday, November 11, in Salem, at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn, at 1 pm.  The Inn is located at 3125 Ryan Dr. SE.  Its parking lot adjoins that of the Denny’s Restaurant.   

 

To reach Mill Creek Inn:  From I-5, take exit 253 which is the intersection of I-5 and State roads 22 and Business 99E.  Go West on 22 (Mission St.) a short distance to Hawthorne Ave.  Turn R on Hawthorn Ave. to the first left, which is Ryan Drive.  Turn left on Ryan Drive.  Denny’s is seen immediately, and just beyond is the Mill Creek Inn.

 

This meeting will be just days after the November election, a time to assess election results and consider our options for future action.

 

There is still time for you to help our endorsed candidates win, by calling their campaign offices and volunteering your services to put up signs, distribute leaflets, make telephone calls, etc.  If you need contact information, call OFIR at 503-435-0141.  The final days before the election are hectic for candidates; help for the many tasks, some mundane, some  exciting, may be crucial.

 

Requests for donations to the OFIR Political Action Committee were mailed out in August.  Thanks to the many OFIR supporters who contributed.  We are happy to report that the OFIR PAC has been able to help several endorsed candidates financially.  Status and progress of the OFIR PAC will be discussed at the meeting.

 

Fence Bill Passed by Congress

 

On Sept. 14, the House of Representatives passed HR 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, by a vote of 283-138.  The bill requires the Dept. of Homeland Security to 1) construct 700 miles of fence along the U.S.-Mexico border; 2) increase use of technology at the border, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, sensors, satellites, radar, and cameras; 3) study the necessity and feasibility of building a fence along the Northern border.  Three of our Oregon Congresspersons voted for the bill: Greg Walden, Peter DeFazio, and Darlene Hooley.  Reps. David Wu and Earl Blumenauer voted against it.  The bill went to the Senate next where it passed by a vote of 80-19.  Both of our Oregon Senators, Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, voted in favor of the bill.

 

While passage of HR 6061 is important, it is only one step in the process of regaining control over our immigration policies.  Much more remains to be done.  There is also a danger that during the coming lame-duck session of Congress, after the election and before the new Congress convenes in January, the forces pushing amnesties and open borders will try to ram through legislation favoring their goals.  It will be necessary to remain vigilant.

Political Climate

The mainstream media has begun to pay more attention to immigration issues recently, no doubt because of the clamor raised by many grass-roots organizations like OFIR, also by FAIR, NumbersUSA, Minuteman,  and other national groups.  Lou Dobbs’ program on CNN has also been a major contributing factor.  His broadcast is aired on the West Coast at 3 p.m. weekdays, repeated at 1 a.m.  

 

Some politicians are beginning to respond to the public’s desire to end illegal immigration.  The number of candidates all over the country who have taken up the cause of immigration reform is most encouraging.  Here in Oregon, gubernatorial candidate Ron Saxton has made several strong statements favoring stricter enforcement, in mailouts, on his website, and in comments to the media.  Two Congressional candidates running for the first time, Derrick Kitts (Dist. 1) and Mike Erickson (Dist.5) are also on record with strong positions supporting better immigration controls.  Some of the candidates for State Legislature are making immigration a main issue in their campaigns.

 

Here again is the list of OFIR-endorsed candidates: 

 

Governor:  Ron Saxton. 

 

Congress:   Dist. 1, Derrick Kitts; Dist. 2, Greg Walden; Dist. 3, David Brownlow; Dist. 4, Peter DeFazio; Dist.5, Mike Erickson. 

 

Oregon State Senate:   Dist. 4, Bill Eddie; Dist. 6, Renee Lindsey; Dist. 11, Jared Thatcher; Dist. 13, Larry George; Dist. 16. Donald Fell;  Dist. 17,  Brad Avakian.

 

Oregon House:  Dist. 1, Wayne Krieger; Dist. 6, Sal Esquivel; Dist. 10, Alan Brown; Dist. 16, Robin M. Brown; Dist. 19, Brian Grisham; Dist. 23, Brian Boquist; Dist. 24, Donna  Nelson; Dist. 25, Kim Thatcher; Dist. 28, Jeff Barker D,  & Eldon Derville-Teer, R; Dist. 29, Terry Rilling; Dist. 37,  Scott Bruun; Dist. 46, William (Bill) Cornett; Dist. 51, Linda Flores; Dist. 53, Gene Whisnant; Dist. 54, Chuck Burley; Dist. 56, Bill Garrard.

Recent OFIR Activities

 

The protests at the Day Labor site in Cornelius, which began in August, continued in September; a total of 5 were held, resulting in a virtual shut-down of the site.  On October 14, the first day labor protest was held in Portland, at NW 6th and Burnside.  It was quite successful, both in stopping illegal hiring there during the protest, and in getting publicity for our efforts.  The Oregonian published a report on p.2 of the Metro section, Oct. 15; also TV news channels 2 and 8 and Univision TV all showed news of the event.  Please contact OFIR if you would like to participate in these protests.

 

In a move to publicize OFIR and expand membership, OFIR has commissioned a billboard with the message:  STOP illegal immigration.  Join Oregonians for Immigration Reform.  The billboard, with a strikingly designed display, will soon be in place in Salem near a busy intersection.  The rally at the Capitol, previously announced, will mark inauguration of the billboard.  This will be one of OFIR’s major events of the year, and we urge everyone to attend.  It will be interesting, informative, and entertaining. 

 

A serious problem for immigration reformists is the financial aid given by corporations to ethnic groups pushing for amnesties and open borders.  These groups get major funding which is not available to citizens’ organizations such as OFIR.  It was learned recently that Miller Brewing Co. financed the “Immigrant Workers Justice Walk” in Chicago on the Labor Day weekend.  Americans for Legal Immigration PAC in cooperation with other reform groups, including OFIR, started a boycott of Miller products.  The boycott has led to promises by Miller to evaluate more closely future donations to such groups and public claims that they don’t support illegal immigration.  You can follow the boycott action on ALIPAC’s website, http://www.alipac.us/

 

OFIR President Jim Ludwick is just back from a great short trip to Chicago to attend a strategy session for immigration reform activists organized by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).  Lots of new ideas and tools were discussed which will help OFIR.  Jim will report on his trip at the Nov. 11 meeting.

 

Fox News interviewed Pres. Ludwick for a report on how immigration issues are affecting the Oregon gubernatorial race.  The feature aired on Brit Hume’s Special Report hosted on Friday, Oct. 20, by Jim Angle; it was very positive for Saxton and for OFIR.

 

Ludwick has also recently been interviewed by David Steves, The Register-Guard (Eugene), Janie Har, The Oregonian (Portland), and Thelma Guerrero, Statesman Journal (Salem).  Guerrero is preparing a feature article on Jim and OFIR for the paper’s “Monday Conversation” series.  Expected publication date: Oct. 30.

 

300 Million US population reached in October

 

On Oct. 17, according to the Census Bureau, the U.S. population hit the 300 million mark, triggered mainly by high levels of legal and illegal immigration, and high birth rates among immigrants.   No cause for celebration, says most of the public.  A poll released by NumbersUSA revealed great discomfort about the rapid U.S. population growth resulting from federal immigration policies.  66% of likely American voters believe the population growth will negatively impact the quality of life in America, by  causing more congestion, overcrowding and pollution.

 

If current immigration rates are allowed to continue, the country will add well over 100 million additional residents by mid-century, with most of the growth caused by immigration.

 

The majority of U.S. Senators, including Oregon’s Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Gordon Smith, voted in May for S.2611, the so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, a bill that would more than double current immigration rates, and dramatically increase the rate of population growth even beyond the present projection.

 

However, according to the poll, fewer than 12% of voters think even current population growth rates would improve their quality of life.  In fact, the poll indicates that two-thirds of Americans would prefer that Congress reduce population growth by reducing annual immigration numbers.

 

If you have not signed up with NumbersUSA for alerts on important legislation and free faxing to Congress, please do.     http://www.numbersusa.com

Immigration harms young workers

 

A new study authored by economists at Northeastern University and published by the Center for Immigration Studies finds that young native-born workers are being displaced in the labor market by immigrants.  Between 2000 and 2005, 4.1 million immigrant workers arrived from abroad, accounting for 86 percent of the net increase in the total number of employed persons (16 and older), the highest share ever recorded in the United States.  Of the 4.1 million new immigrant workers, between 1.4 and 2.7 million are estimated to be illegal immigrants.  Between 2000 and 2005, the number of young (16 to 34) native-born men who were employed declined by 1.7 million; at the same time, the number of new male immigrant workers increased by 1.9 million.  – “The Impact of New Immigrants on Young Native-Born Workers, 2000-2005”

http://www.cis.org/articles/2006/back806.html

Good Reads

 

“Want Mass Amnesty?  Vote for Democrats,” by James R. Edwards, Jr.

A cogent analysis of the politics of immigration.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=17299

 

“So much for promises – Quotes re 1965 Immigration Act.”

Reveals the actual words of Congressional promoters of this bill, showing the grossly false promises and faulty predictions.  Some of the same people, e.g., Sen. Kennedy, are now pushing S. 2611.       http://vdare.com/fallon/060809_promises.htm

 

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We hope to see everyone at the meeting on Saturday, November 11.  Please come, share your thoughts and ideas, meet like-minded citizens, and hear the latest news on immigration issues in Oregon and the U.S.

 

The November meeting is the annual business meeting.  The terms of office under our bylaws are 2 years.  We are midway in the current term.  Next year, Nov. 2007, will be time to elect or reelect officers.  The current officers are:  President, Jim Ludwick; Vice President, Richard Hickey; Treasurer, Roy Duncan; Secretary, Elizabeth Van Staaveren.  The elected member of the Board of Directors is Vern Cook.  Appointed members of the Board are:  Frank Brehm, Jim Elvin, Lyneil Chase, Ken Evans, Lee Vasché, Seth Sundin.


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