They decided to exert the rights granted to American citizens in the Constitution of the United States. The rights of free speech and peaceable assembly – the First Amendment to the Constitution – are guaranteed to every American citizen in the Bill of Rights.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The key word here is “American citizen.”
O.C. illegal immigrant arrested in D.C. (http://www.ocregister.com/news/arrested-258552-act-dream.html )
By BRIAN ROSENTHAL and DENA BUNIS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
WASHINGTON – A UCIrvine graduate who is living in the United States illegally was arrested on Capitol Hill Tuesday with a group of young people protesting the lack of a bill that would grant them legal status.
Antonia Rivera was one of 12 people – six men and six women – who were arrested after they sat in a circle in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building. They were charged with disorderly conduct and were being processed by Capitol Police Tuesday afternoon.
The 12 are part of hundreds of students who came to Washington this week to try and convince lawmakers to pass the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow young people who were brought here illegally by their parents a chance to gain legal status. Opponents, however, say passing such a bill would reward illegal behavior and that people who came here illegally or overstayed their visas shouldn’t be allowed to remain.
Rivera is one of those people who would benefit from the DREAM Act.
The 28-year-old, who was brought here by her parents from Mexico when she was six years-old, graduated UC Irvine in 2006 with a degree in literary journalism. Since then she has been unable to work, she said, because she has no documents.
Moments before she was arrested Rivera said in an interview that she was confident that the DREAM Act would pass this year. She said if the bill passed it would mean her freedom so she wouldn’t have to continue to live an underground life.
The 12 protesters were wearing graduation caps and gowns. Earlier in the day several hundred activists staged a mock graduation ceremony at a nearby church to demonstrate the fact that despite having finished college they could not work in their chosen fields of study.
On the floor in the middle of the circle in the Hart Building were banners that read “DREAM Act now” and “Undocumented and Unafraid.”
“There is no demonstrating in a Capitol building,” said Capitol Hill Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider. She said the charge is a misdemeanor and typically people are released the same day.
Witnesses said police approached the group, told them they had to disperse or they would be arrested. They continued to sit. A few minutes later police arrested them.
Schneider said she couldn’t say whether Rivera and the other protesters – all of whom witnesses said were undocumented – would be turned over to federal immigration officials.
“Everyone will be run through the system,” including federal data bases, Schneider said.
Before they went to the middle of the Hart building, the protesters made the rounds of Senate offices, visiting three Democratic senators all of whom support the DREAM Act. These included California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who chairs the immigration subcommittee, and Sen. Bob Menendez, the only Hispanic senator.
“They came and sat in the reception area and talked to a member of our staff about the DREAM Act,” said Feinstein’s communications director Gil Duran. “They were there for about 30 minutes and then they left.”
The DREAM Act activists have staged similar protesters at Feinstein’s offices in the state despite her support for the Act. She has co-sponsored the bill ever since Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., introduced it.
“They have the view that more should be done,” Duran said. “It’s unfortunate that they would resort to getting themselves arrested as political statement instead of working to build the bipartisan support the bill would need.”
What am I missing? These people are NOT American citizens. They are NOT automatically given rights by the Constitution. Yet they chose to exert the right to assemble peaceably and use free speech granted by the Constitution to AMERICAN CITIZENS.
These 12 people have no rights under the American Constitution, yet they are determined to pretend they do in order to be granted amnesty for an illegal act perpetrated by them and/or their parents when they entered this country illegally.
They believe in their misguided worlds that because they came illegally to the United States as children and have managed to skirt the system and avoid deportation for a number of years they are somehow being mistreated because now that they have used tax payer money for their entire lives and received a first-class education free or practically free they should be allowed to become citizens just because they graduated from college.
Stated differently – many years of wrongs make one right.
As for “building the bipartisan support the bill would need,” let me just say this as loudly and as clearly as I possibly can. Even bipartisan support will not make this legal and it will not make it right. If either of my U.S. Senators or my Congressman should support a bill allowing blanket amnesty which is being sought by the liberal left agenda in this country, I would do everything I can to see that they are NOT re-elected because they will not be representing me.
There are laws currently active that allow for the process of legal immigration. FOLLOW THE LAW, CONGRESMEN AND SENATORS. You are not above the law regardless of how much you give the appearance that you are.
Turning their heads the other way while our laws are broken is the direct cause along with others that our nation finds itself so deeply in debt with a tyrannical leader who insists on making matters worse rather than better and a liberal government intent on usurping the leadership granted to them by the people of the United States.
Hear me clearly, Obama. SECURE OUR BORDERS. We the people support legal immigration and strongly oppose amnesty in any form you try to present it.
Marie, I love the way you think. You have voiced my feelings on this matter perfectly. I will help fight against illegal aliens and their activities any chance I get. Thank you for having this wonderful newsletter. Remember, you are not alone. Thousands upon thousands of people support your efforts. Keep up the excellent work.
Ms. Taylor, Thank you so much for your supportive and encouraging words. I sometimes think that I may be in this fight all alone although I know that is not true. I will continue to voice my opinion as long as the First Amendment allows AMERICAN CITIZENS to do so! I AM an American Citizen – the First Amendment was written for me – and for you, Ms. Taylor!
Marie