U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva closed his offices in Yuma and Tucson at noon on Friday because of the threatening phone calls. The Congressman says he opposed the legislation that has just been signed into law by Governor Brewer. He specifically says he opposes making it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally.
The Arizona Daily Star reports that Grijalva spokesman Adam Sarvana released a statement Friday saying that the congressman’s office received “some pretty scary calls,” including one from a man “who threatened to go down there and blow everyone’s brains out then go to the border to shoot Mexicans.”
According to the Daily Star:
Grijalva staffer Ruben Reyes said the office has been flooded with calls all week about Senate Bill 1070. About 25 percent are “very racist” in nature, Reyes said, characterizing some as “telling that tortilla-eating wetback to go back to Mexico.”
Has it really come to this? PWC sure dodged the bullet if this is the case. Again, there are just other ways to handle problems. I saw people out throwing stuff, not sure what at cops on TV. People doing that might want to do a little reseach about Kent State….it really isn’t a smart thing to do. I love Arizona. I would not go there now. The Grand Canyon State will have to be grand without me.
What will Arizona do without that extra $5?
As I have said previously, this is what happens as the federal government continues to lose legitimacy. It fails to do what it is supposed to do, i.e. close the borders. And it goes way beyond what it is allowed to do, i.e. mandate health insurance and impose limits on the right to own and bear arms. Discontent will continue to grow until the government respects its constitutional limits and obligations.
What exactly has the government not done that you think it should have done. Let’s start there.
Hi Slow. I have missed you. I can’t even remember what $5 was about. Refresh.
Kelly, what limits have been set by the feds on guns? I have never heard Obama mention guns.
As long as the protests are peaceful, bless those people for protesting and for others counter-protesting.
We need citizens involved and engaged.
Some of the protest wasn’t peaceful. That was my point. Did you see the cops being hit with God knows what?
Congressmen shouldn’t be threatened. Is everyone doing this? Of course now. Arizona isn’t Prince William County either.
And that is one reason I am keeping my mouth fairly shut. Arizona is not Prince William County. I tend to sit back and observe for a while before getting on my high horse.
I think they have been led astray and I think they need to handle the drug cartel violence differently than their undocumented worker situation. it makes sense to triage problems.
It’s a very bad sign when elected officials are threatend with violence for performing their duties. I tell you, everyday America looks more and more like Afghanistan or Iraq, where those who don’t get their way resort to violence and terrorism. I fear for our country.
It appears as if just about anyone with a political persona is being threatened with violence these days — the President, senators, congressmen, political commentators. Right or left on the political spectrum, it doesn’t seem to matter. The Secret Service and the Capitol Police being overworked is nothing new, really. But, when I hear political commentators admit that recommendations are being made that they themselves hire bodyguards, I just begin to shake my head in disbelief.
How creepy was it that the guy yesterday who was arrested was named McVey?
He was probably a tea-bagger. I’m sure some idiots will claim that the Democrats paid him to make the tea-baggers look violent, stupid and ignorant (as if they weren’t doing a good enough job of that themselves).
Rep. Luis Gutierrez is the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force. He is pro-amnesty and is the one calling for the new Arizona rule that police determine if people are in the country illegally a “serious civil rights violation. He has also called anyone who disagrees with him a bigot and the call for law enforcement hate speech.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez has not called anyone who disagrees with him a bigot and has not called for law enforcement hate speech. You lie!
@Starryflights Are there really that many people in the USA performing that particular sexual act that seems to make them so threatening to you? And why do you care what people do in the bedroom? Does it really define their political views? Are “cornholers” less “violent, stupid and ignorant” than people who prefer “teabagging” their partners?
You seem to be the authority, so I just thought I’d ask.
@Starryflights
“I am going there to let the people of Arizona know that they are not alone in fighting against bigotry and hatred,” said Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat.
So what will AZ do with everyone they arrest if only the Federal Govt. has the power to deport? Keep sticking them in Prison untill the prisons are so full that the populace riots?
Maybe just shoot them on the spot? Lynch them to save on bullets? I mean what the F$%# do they think they are going to do, if your turn them over to ICE, ICE will let them go just like they do in PWC and Herndon.
@PWC Taxpayer
Rep. Grijalva who MH is so concerned about and says he got death threats, is/was a member of MEChA, a group that thinks that the American Southwest belongs to them, and that anybody of European descent should leave. Grijalva wants Obama to nix federal agreements with Arizona police that might help with the enforcement of the new trespassing law. Rod, I guess that is exactly what he wants —or for the United States to backdown – again – and allow open borders and, yes Amnesty.
@rod2155 I guess the alternative is to just do nothing whatsoever, and let the situation worsen. The Federal Government’s inaction is forcing the hands of localities to do something, anything.
Perhaps if there was some sense that we are all in this business together, that our government listens to its people rather than sometimes blatantly mocking their concerns, and lobbying groups cynically painting them with a broad brush of bigotry and xenophobia, then perhaps there wouldn’t be fears of states and localities going rogue with enforcement. This is yet another intensely polarizing issue that both parties will manipulate for votes.
@rod2155
They will put them in tents and pink underwear.
The alternative is CIR is the DREAM Act in coordination with protecting the border. The real issue for Arizona and border states is the drug war. By focusing limited resources on people who are here working INSTEAD of dangerous criminals, you put all the citizens at risk. The only positive to this situation is that Arizona has forced congress to focus on immigration reform.
@Elena
Elena, all citizens are at risk – greater risk – all the way to Prince William, because we cannot get in control of the borders. It is not just localized drug violence – it is also about terrorism. How do you block the sive that is a danger to all of us. And yet, there are groups – large numbers of groups who for personal self interest – or political correctness reasons would have that sive remain open and act like those who got through deserve the right to stay. Forget the cost of crime, health care, jobs, wages….any view to the contrary is hate speech – which just leaves us with more anger. The violence and drug trade of groups like MS-13 is in Prince William.
@Emma
I never said do nothing, but taking action without a real plan and thought of consequences leads to complete train wrecks of policy and creates more problems.
Past anti-“Illegal” immigration “plans” have spawned institutions like the Italian Mafia as a side effect that we are still dealing with today.
-Putting them all in prison will eat up tax dollars and put communities at risk of Prison riots/breaks.
-Killing/ Lynching them all will spark retaliation all over the United States leading to a proxy race war (which traditionally lead to anarchy)
-Handing them off to ICE is pretty much like doing nothing at all.
-Doing nothing will continue to cause more burdens on the taxpayers in many diffrent ways
I agree with Elena in terms of a good compromise solution for the present.
The ultimate end of this will be Americans divesting in all corporations who hire or promote the use of cheap labor/ outsourcing over American workers for the sake of profit.
Live within your means, buy American, impose an honest tarrif on foreign goods to keep a level playing field, hire only verified citizens, secure the borders, have an honest immigration and naturalization process, leave drug laws in the hands of the states.
Off topic, but is there any chance we could get an open thread again?
I just finished my VA taxes so I’m loaded for bear. I’m kind of hoping that Starrynights will post something about GM’s ‘repayment’ to the Feds. I could have some fun with that.
Applying this logic we could simply legalize all drugs and therefore wouldn’t need border enforcement because drugs would be legal and those drug runners would simply be persons operating of the approved comsumer logistics chain.
If Arizona wants to tell there police officers to wear shiny foil hats and sing the Oscar Meyer jingle that’s really there business – it’s there state.
What would be interesting is once an offender is released from jail, if ICE won’t deport he’s still breaking the law. So, would the State pick him up right outside of the prison gates? Give him time to self-deport? Or, pay for bus fare to a neighboring state – like California – so that the illegal could apply for CA govt benefits?
You saw the same thing with welfare recipients. States would pay to relocate recipients to other states to decrease the burden on the sending state.
Now, whats interesting will be that once the law is enforced will AZ’s neighbors start to see a large influx of people immigrating out of AZ. How will those recipient states react?
Lots of interesting questions to ponder for the armchair intellectuals.
I think comprehensive immigration reform is a good solution to this problem. Arizona’s actions may well expedite that process in the Congress, which is one good thing that would come from this. Congress and the White House should act on it now while they hold majorities. If comprehensive reform costs the Democrats Congress, so be it. This is more important than political fun and games.
@PWC Taxpayer
Can this assertion be verified? Also, even if he has, should he and his staff receive death threats?
@Formerly Anonymous
I will try to put one up formerly/ I am not at home at the moment, I am sorry to say.
@PWC Taxpayer
More reason to focus on DANGEROUS criminals, thanks for pointing that out……
People are here, they came here primarily to support a self induced government promoted housing bubble, now they have children, have made homes, have made a living for themselves. All the research I have done actually proves the opposite of what you are saying. Furthermore, many undocumnted HAVE gone home with the crater in the housing boom. Many who have remained probably have families and children that have integrated.
Stop making sense Rod, people don’t want to hear that kind of talk!
Even if the Federal Government chooses not to deport, keep them in custody long enough and often enough that they can’t make money for their families. And then they will leave.
I don;t think people will be payiong coyotes 20 grand a pop for the chance to go to Sheriff Joe’s jails, wear pink, and live in tents.
Does it matter that 70% of voters in Arizona support this law? It’s obviously what they want and need as far as immigrantion laws go, the feds aren’t going to help while their citizens are murdered and kidnapped by those who should be there.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/arizona/70_of_arizona_voters_favor_new_state_measure_cracking_down_on_illegal_immigration
@Moon-howler
MH are you asking whether Mr. Grijalva’s assertion of death threats can be verified? I should think that would be required given the impact of the public charge and who he is – don’t you? I have not seen a release of any tapes – have you? Actually, I don’t doubt that he go some very unfortunate, nasty and politically in-correct messages, given his background and position on the issue- as noted above. It has or will go both ways before this is over.
Elena, I don’t get your point. Its not like illegals sneaking into the country have signs that say “Hey, I’m one of the dangerous ones.”
First of all, the use of the term “illegals” to describe a human being is offensive to me. Second to me, you WON’T get the dangerous drug dealers if you alienate and put fear in the very people police enforcement needs to share information. Most undocumented people are hardworking, not dangerous criminals.
I expect Rep. Grijalva’s threats have been verified to the FBI. And you know that isn’t what I was asking about.
That is sure a twist on what he really said. And for the record, I don’t want any of our congressmen or senators threatened.
Elena,
I often hear the sentiment that a human being can’t be illegal. That is another red herring thrown out because nobody is being called illegal as a human being. If the police catch me in a jewelry store at 3 am I will be arrested. Not because I am illegal but because my presence in the jewelry store is illegal.
A report in from the front lines:
Two people I know “self deported” 2 months ago after they were caught up in a workplace raid 2 years ago. They had reached the end of the line since no immigration reform had gotten done by the time they ran out of court dates. One got back to this area today and the other one will soon be on his way back. It is a shame these guys can’t pay the $5K they are paying coyotes to get them here to the Federal Government to get in. Instead, known criminals are profiting. Is that what we really want?
What this says: First, people caught up in raids are not “deported” within days as some people would lead others to believe. They are still here until their court dates come and go and they finally reach the end of the line. But then they come back.
Second, neither of these guys has ever received a penny in “welfare” or any other kind of government assistance, yet they have thousands of dollars saved up to get back into the country. Before they started to save up for that knowing they eventually would have to leave and pay to come back, they were buying big screen tv’s, clothes at Macy’s, having dinners out and contributing to the economy in a myriad of ways. It’s a damn shame.
I absolutely believe any signs that the economy was turning around in AZ will soon be in the past if 500,000 “illegals” feel they have no choice to leave. And what about all the people that are living in “mixed status” situations. That’s going to be hundred’s of thousands of more people that will feel they need to flee. Not smart. At all.
Somehow I think we are arriving at a sort of consensus here from all different directions. Secure the border and you will be able to eliminate the in extremis response we have seen in Arizona. Then get those young kids into the Dream Act. Assimilate them. Work like Hell at getting that program going. Not just school either. Varsity athletics, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, music programs, community volunteer organizations, etc. Give them a real stake in America, not a clinging to the “old country” borne out of the current brouhahha over the entire immigration issue. Make them part of us. I want to start seeing some photos in the local paper of Latino kids being awarded the rank of Eagle Scout and getting congratulations from county officials. I want to see some varsity quarterbacks with Latino faces. I want to see a beautiful Latina dance the solo in “Swan Lake” Then you focus on the “lost generation”, i.e. the parents of these kids and others who are having a hard time adjusting to community standards in a new country. O.K., if there are some on either side who want to continue the racial aspect of all this, work hard to leave them in our dust. Marginalize all of the them by aiming unwaveringly at our main goals.
Now, I am waiting for the politicians of both major parties to wake up, stop playing pollitical games for ethnic votes, and get cracking on the program.
I very much agree with the Dream Act also. Wolverine, something that is a real high, at least to me, is to see the ROTC programs in our area. They are all very heavily Latino and those kids just make you proud. They are standing tall, proud, and as Americans. It hurts me to hear the slack jaw some Americans direct in their direction.
You and Mrs. W definitely have the right idea here!
What was it that Dick Cheney said when told that most Americans believed the Iraq war was a mistake? Oh yeah, I remember.
“SO”?