Hunger Strike for Amnesty

A-fisking we will go, a-fisking we will go. Heigh ho, illegals-OH, a-fisking we will go.

My comments, as always, are in red.

From the Chicago Tribune:

To win support for legalizing the nation's illegal immigrants, two women facing the prospect of deportation brought cots, crates of bottled water and Bibles to a wind-whipped Pilsen neighborhood plaza Wednesday to publicize their continuing hunger strike. How, exactly, is illegal aliens fasting supposed to win support for legalization amnesty?

Elvira Arellano and Flor Crisostomo say they have not eaten solid food for two weeks and have been joined by three more supporters who have taken a similar pledge in recent days. The five plan to sleep in an open tent on the plaza on West 18th Street. And how, exactly, is illegal aliens sleeping on the streets of Chciago supposed to win support for legalization amnesty?

Arellano, who has become one of the area's most prominent voices for illegal immigrants since being arrested in a 2002 sweep at O'Hare International Airport Does anyone else see a problem with the fact that one of Chicago's most vocal illegal aliens was picked up FOUR YEARS AGO and she's still here?, said the strikers thought it important to pursue a dramatic strategy with an immigration bill on the verge of likely approval in the Senate.

"We have traveled so many times to Washington You can afford to travel "so many times" to Washington? That makes one of us. We have talked to senators and congressmen. They aren't listening to us," said Arellano You're not a citizen. They're no SUPPOSED to listen to you, who received a special temporary visa sorry -- not just STILL HERE but still here on a SPECIAL TEMPORARY VISA! that expires in August.

The hunger strikers say they are drinking only juice, water, tea and sport drinks. They are consuming broth but forgoing all solid food. Both women say they have lost about 10 pounds. Keep an eye on the news -- you will surely be hearing about all the illegal aliens dying in the desert Pilsen.

The strikers say they plan to continue their fast until at least June 1, the same day that 23 of 26 Chicago-area workers of IFCO Systems face hearings in Immigration Court after they were arrested in April. The strikers are calling for an end to all deportations until Congress approves a legalization bill. The nerve ! How dare our government actually enforce an immigration law? Why start now?

In April, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 1,000 illegal immigrants in 26 states during the IFCO operation.

President Bush and many lawmakers say such enforcement against companies is essential to stem the tide of illegal immigration because it could help eliminate the job magnet that draws many undocumented workers. Blah blah BLAH blah blah. I'm sorry, President Bush -- did you say something?

Crisostomo, one of the IFCO workers, acknowledged that many Americans would be unsympathetic because she broke the law. Unsympathetic? No. Firm? You betcha. But she hopes the hunger strike will help win attention. She looked warily up at the dark clouds. "Maybe God will help us with the weather too," she said.

*SIGH*

Technorati Tags
Illegal Immigration
Illegal Aliens
Amnesty
Hunger Strike
Chicago