Why are citizens of Mexico protected by the US Constitution?
Attorney Mark Silverman pointed a finger toward a rapt audience of undocumented immigrants at Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church in Sacramento.
"If they knock on your door, don't open it. You don't have to answer their questions, either. You can say, no, politely," Silverman said in Spanish.
You might be illegal immigrants, the attorney told the crowd of some 200 people. But under the U.S. Constitution, he said, you have the right to keep your door closed and to tell agents to leave if they're searching for a different person and have a warrant only for that person.
With the recent collapse of a federal immigration overhaul in Washington -- and no revival in sight -- immigrant activists across the country are regrouping, training illegal immigrants on the nuances of the Bill of Rights and imploring Americans to rethink solutions to illegal immigration.
On top of that, Silverman said, more Mexicans likely will immigrate illegally next year once free-trade pacts allow unlimited amounts of corn and other U.S. farm products into Mexico, putting further economic pressure on Mexican farmers.
In the meantime, as long as illegal immigrants are stuck in shadow status without legal options, Silverman said, he and others intend to advise them "to defend themselves."
Some groups are distributing wallet-sized tip sheets so immigrants will know what rights they can invoke. Others are holding forums such as the one featuring Silverman that a religious network, Sacramento Area Congregations Together, organized Monday night.
Silverman said he realizes immigration authorities and a good number of Americans consider his views provocative and plain wrong. But the Constitution, he said, has long provided limits on how agencies such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, can operate.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/280658.h...
Isn't there something illegal about anyone, much less an attorney, helping people break the law? Or is there a fine line between what he's doing "advising" and actually aiding?
Answer:
BorderPundit
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Gang expert backs Tancredo charges
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, here’s a nice little piece about how the bad guys are taking over, little by little.
WASHINGTON – Rep. Tom Tancredo’s charge that Mexican drug cartels are buying up legitimate businesses in U.S. cities to launder money and using some of the proceeds to win local mayoral and city council seats for politicians who can shape the policies and personnel decisions of their police forces, has been backed up by a veteran gang investigator.
Richard Valdemar, a retired sergeant with the L.A. County sheriff’s department and a longtime member of a federal task force investigating gang activity, went beyond the charges made by Tancredo, the chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus who has led the fight to secure America’s southern border.
In fact, he cited first-hand experience in investigating attempts to take over seven cities in Los Angeles County – Southgate, Lynwood, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens and Huntington Park.
He also told WND in an exclusive interview that he has since become aware of similar efforts by Mexican drug cartels throughout the Southwest – in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
And here’s how they do it:
“In the typical scenario, a wealthy Mexican immigrant opens a business in a small town,” he says. “It could be a very nice Mexican restaurant. He’s well-dressed, speaks English, seemingly a real gentleman. He gets involved in the community. His business welcomes police officers with discounts. He makes friends with city officials and other businessmen. No one has any idea where his money comes from – the Mexican drug cartels.”
Valdemar says the agent of the cartels often sets up other businesses – including the sale of cheap used tires and used autos. These businesses are used almost exclusively as fronts for laundering money.
Then he begins targeting political power in the town. When election time rolls around, Valdemar says, he sponsors – directly or indirectly – a number of candidates for the city council with the express purpose of winning a majority of seats for his handpicked operatives. Some of the candidates are simply in place to level baseless accusations against incumbents, while others keep above the fray, positioning themselves for victory.
As soon as they take power, the new majority fires the city attorney and names a replacement. Often the second city official to go is the city manager. Both of these moves are designed to cover up the illicit activities that will follow.
City contracts for trash collection and other services are given to friendly businesses – also in league with the cartel. Regulations on auto-repair businesses and alcohol sales are lifted – again, making it easier for cartel-tied businesses to operate more freely. Gambling ordinances are changed to permit casinos and bingo parlors. Loan sharking, prostitution and increased drug business follow – all of which increase revenues for the cartels and power for their agents in the city.
Valdemar says very few prosecutions are successful because of the wealth and political ties of those involved. The situation in the Southwest is grave, he says, and the problem is spreading nationwide.
“We lost California,” the Arizona resident says. “That’s why I don’t live there any more.”
Nice, eh? After reading this, I hope you can sleep at night, because this is going to bother me for a while.
Sounds to me like he is aiding, giving comfort, and encouraging law breaking. He should be disbared.
There are more illeagl immigrants working for our government than any other employer. Do you think they really want to stop them from sneaking into the USA?
Silverman brings up some good points and he is right in saying they don't have to answer questions(5th amendment) and do not have to open their doors unless there is a warrant for them. I have not stopped to consider those points before but he is right. We do still need to get illegals out of this country and if you can't get them at home get them on the job by going after the people who hire, aid, and abet them. They will leave by choice if they can no longer afford to stay. Starve them out but do it legally.
This is part of a larger issue. The question is,"Why should I, as a citizen of the United States, sacrifice my rights under the Constitution, to make it easier for INS to round up illegal aliens?"
My answer is: I shouldn't.
When a law enforcement officer knocks on a door without a warrant, a presumption of innocence is made. That is to say, in our legal system, the cops have to assume that the people in the house are law abiding citizens. Now, as much as you may want illegal immigrants (or terrorists, or murderers, etc.) to be brought to justice, do you really want to give law enforcement the right to enter your home anytime they want? I certainly don't.
I think that very few Americans appreciate freedom, and fewer still understand that living in a free country doesn't mean life is going to be perfect, or easy. Yes, all of our problems could be solved, and life would be easy, if the government could just take control of everything. They could tell us where to work, where to live, how to dress, etc. But I would rather live free than live like that.
We are well on our way not only destroying this country, but bankrupting it as well with this open borders mentality. It is a tug a war between the illegals and their well financed , supporters that have no shame to put the needs and the wants over not only the law, but the needs and wants of the American tax payer, to the business that demand cheap labor, and the congress and president that want to trade campaign dollars for legislation that promotes their thirst for cheap labor. Then there is the citizens that have to pay not only in their tax dollars, but in their way of life as well, press two for Spanish is just one example
Tony, unless you want to give them blanket immunity for any crime they commit they are subject to the laws of this country which means they are entitled to all the rights the constitution affords them such as the 5th ammendment. Only diplomats are not subject to the laws of this country.
I don't want someone knocking down my door because they presume what my status is based on the color of my skin. You want to throw this country in the toilet for your bigotry.
I think that is great Viva Mexico
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