From Deseret News archives:

Anti-illegals group targets 2 senators

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 10:48 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SOUTH JORDAN — A new grassroots group that wants to close the borders to illegal immigrant is targeting Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, both R-Utah.

Barry Hatch urged dozens of people attending a meeting at the South Jordan public library Wednesday night to flood their offices with phone calls and letters, urging them to strengthen and seal off the nation's borders.

"We are about to lose our country the way we know it," said Hatch, who is a second cousin of the U.S. senator. "Illegals are coming in. Jobs are going to be lost."

In an emotional speech, Barry Hatch, who used to live in California, said, "Immigrants are coming as conquerors. They are colonizing and spreading fast . . . I watched California become a third-world country."

Tony Yapias, director of the State Office of Hispanic Affairs, said groups are becoming more active on both sides of the emotional issue.

"It's a frustration of our immigration policy," he said. "On a local level, immigration is almost at a boiling stage."

At one point, an audience member told a Spanish television reporter he was only opposed to illegal immigrants.

During the meeting, the group also discussed plans to protest at the state Capitol and also a planned visit to Utah by Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Story continues below
Hatch also suggested that President Bush should be impeached for his pro-immigration reform, which would provide temporary work visas for some illegal immigrants. He said such policy would lead to no borders, with only one nation from Canada southward.

Those attending the meeting stressed this is not about racism — this is about protecting America and its culture.

Jean Lindsay, who attended the meeting, said she's concerned about immigration's impact on the school system.

"I feel like we are losing our culture," she said. "I'm concerned about they don't want to go through the legal channels . . . I'm concerned about the rule of law."


E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Me and the Mrs. was thinkin' about comin' down to SLC to do a little...

Utes won't respond to Hall

Any unsportsman like conduct is wrong no matter who you our. And as someone...

Cougs begin bowl preparations

I live in Wyoming and fans here hate BYU with a passion, and would love to...

BCS stable at top, Y. up to 14

I'm with you! utwingnut

U. eyes bowl for redemption

Utes don't lose bowl games. Hopefully it's against a challenging team.

Utes won't respond to Hall

Max Hall said, blah blah. Ute fans don't want to talk about the real issue....

Editorial: East, West and religion

The Moslems should welcome free speech. How is their society ever to progress...

I'm a Ute fan and I don't hate Max Hall. I admit that when I first heard his...

I am a BYU fan and bleed blue, But Utah played a better game Saturday, we...

Good and thoughtful article, Amy. Max's lack of wisdom in his comments...

Advertisements