On July 18-19 anti-amnesty groups coordinated a national event called the “National Days Of Protest Against Immigration Reform Amnesty & The Illegal Immigration Surge!” More than 320 protests were held nationwide.
In Dallas, Texas protesters rallied against a plan by Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to house at least 2,000 alien minors at three vacant public school sites in the city. Bruce Fogerty, one of the organizers, said "This is a created crisis where our government refuses to enforce the law." Another organizer, Valerie Villarreal, "I always felt safe and secure in Texas. Now my country is being destroyed slowly…Compassionate to whom? Veterans who are homeless and being badly treated or not treated at all but they have for money for illegals?"
In Allen, Arlington, Fort Worth, and Rockwall Texas protestors stood on highway overpasses with flags and signs like "Secure the Borders." A steady stream of supportive horn honks came from the busy instate below.
In Los Angeles, Calif., protestors held signs over a highway overpass. "How can we afford to take care of other countries' poor? Americans are going hungry without jobs and no one is attending to them," said Herbert Baker, a protestor.
In San Diego County, Calif., where the federal government has relocated or released hundreds of surge aliens, protestors stood on top of a highway overpass in La Mesa. Melanie Kortlang said, “I have suffered the cost of illegal immigration. My daughter was hit and killed by an illegal alien and I made a promise to her that I will not let her be forgotten…It’s time that this country takes a stand and says enough is enough. Let’s start taking care of our own kids. We have hungry, homeless children on our streets here. We have our veterans who are dying on the streets. We’ve had enough. It’s time to secure our borders and enforce the laws. Let’s take care of our own first.”
In New York City, N.Y. at the United Nations, anti-amnesty demonstrators faced off against pro-amnesty demonstrators. “I’ve been through the process, it works just fine,” said Brad Morris. “It costs money and it takes time. If these people want to come here, they have to submit to the same process.”
In Philadelphia, Penn., outside of the Mexican consulate, protesters spoke out against amnesty. “The people have been silent for too long,” said Margaret Adelsburger, a member of Pennsylvanians for Immigration Control and Enforcement.
In Oracle, Ariz., where protesters have already been demonstrating against a planned shelter for surge minors, event organizer Robert Skiba said his group is “trying to make people aware of the dangers of having these youth housed in and around our communities.”
In Johnson City, Tenn., the local chapter of Overpasses for America held a rally on the Princeton Road Interstate 26 overpass to speak out against amnesty and to demand that troops be placed along the southern border. Harry Polk III, said “We’re here to support the securing of our border, to keep the illegals from coming over here without being checked and thrown in camps and released into the American public.”
In Providence, R.I., on the steps of the State House, Karin Gorman from Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement said, "We cannot afford to take on new people. We can’t [care for] the people we have already." She cited the state’s fragile economy and the uncertainty of who was coming into the country.
The events were coordinated by Make Them Listen, Overpasses for America, and Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC). The latter two groups announced a new round of protests on August 2nd for remaining GOP primary states.
