Now
Fair
22°
High
28°
Low
11°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Nebraska
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Fremont group forms to protest illegal immigration

Comments 16 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By DON BOWEN / Lee Newspapers

Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 - 03:16:31 pm CDT

FREMONT — After watching a group Susan Smith called “illegal aliens and their supporters” marching in protest less than a year ago, the Omaha woman wanted to take action.

In November, she formed the Nebraskans Advisory Group to protest illegal immigration.

On Tuesday, Andy Schnatz of Fremont and Smith led the first meeting of the group’s Fremont chapter.

“We’re not against anybody or any group,” Schnatz said. “We’re not a supremacy group. We’re not a violent group.”

Said Smith: “There are a lot of myths about illegal immigration. There are a lot of organizations who support illegal aliens. If they are in our country illegally, they need to leave. We welcome legal immigrants. We welcome people who follow our laws and go through the process.”

Twenty-five people attended the Tuesday meeting. As they introduced themselves, some said they were there because they are concerned about problems that stem from illegal immigration. Others said they were there to hear what was being said about the issue.

Smith said she partially blames mainstream media for not sharing the information she and others want Americans to know about illegal immigration.

“These people are coming into this country illegally,” Schnatz said. “They’re criminals, and they want rights. They have no rights. I’m a veteran. I just want my country back.”

Smith said she gets angry about “preferential treatment” illegal immigrants receive.

“We have illegal aliens who would rather spit on us and spit on our flag than follow our laws,” she said. “I wanted to do something about it, not just sit around and complain.”

When asked by a Fremont native now living in San Francisco what the organization proposes to do, Smith said members of the group will attend government meetings and talk with officials, endorse or oppose legislation, try to get local police departments to form illegal immigration task forces and hold protests and rallies.

“This is an unofficial local citizens grassroots organization,” she said, adding that the group’s ultimate goals are to get benefits and services for illegal immigrants shut off and punish employers who hire illegal immigrants.

“I’ll spend my last breath fighting illegal aliens coming into this state,” she said.

At least one person said he thought it was a losing proposition.

“I think it’s a waste of time because of the corrupt politicians and corporations,” said A.J. Prochaska. “They’re all controlled by greed.”

Frances Smith of Fremont agreed the media is partially to blame.

“The media isn’t paid to reveal the news,” she said. “They’re paid to conceal the news. Just because something comes out of Dan Rather’s mouth doesn’t mean it’s the truth, or just because it’s in the local newspaper.”

Two members of the Omaha chapter of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps attended the meeting. The chapter’s director, Mike Narducci, said he just spent three days patrolling in southern Arizona.

“While other groups are talking, the Minutemen are the only ones with our boots on the ground,” he said.

“If you really want to know what’s going on, the information is out there,” Smith said. “Most people don’t really want to know.”

Schnatz said another meeting of the group is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 3 in the Keene Memorial Library auditorium.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Nebraska > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
SRO wrote on March 21, 2007 3:32 pm:
" They should have a conference call or a satelite site so that people outside of Fremont can join the cause!!! Great job, guys!!!! "

 Sally wrote on March 21, 2007 4:12 pm:
" This is great,keep the good work! "

 This isn't your land wrote on March 21, 2007 4:19 pm:
" I am sorry but it does not appear to me that any of the people in this article belong to the Sioux or Pawnee or any recognized indian tribe. Maybe they should ask those on the reservations how they feel about have their country invaded more than 100 years ago. Seems like the pot calling the kettle black. Just deal with it, the immigrants must becoming for something. And I would like to know what benefits they receive? Kinda hard to get TANF or food stamps when you don't have a Social Security Number "

 exactly wrote on March 21, 2007 4:28 pm:
" It is about time for Americans and our government to take a stand against illegal aliens coming into this country. It's also time for businesses to quit hiring these illegal aliens so we can put those people to work that use and abuse our welfare system. Illegal aliens not only cost taxpayers money by businesses illegally hiring them and then being fined when caught and passing those cost onto taxpayers, but it also cost taxpayers money by letting those who chose to sit around and collect the "free" welfare instead of working. I'm not against people coming into the United States but they must follow the laws that we have in place in order for them to become citizens of this country. Illegal aliens have no respect for the law or they wouldn't be here as illegals. Yes, there are people who give us the excuses that they are here in this country to help provide for their families back home, but shouldn't we be taking care of American citizens before we start handing out to illegal immigrants. There are plenty of poor people in this country that need our help before we start handing out to others who are here illegally. Take a stand now or lose even more in the future! "

 Thank you! wrote on March 21, 2007 5:36 pm:
" 100 years ago - immigration was legal. There is absolutely no comparison to what is happening now. There are laws, there are rules. Read the news - working illegals are using falsified documents, they have to be otherwise they wouldn't be working! Of course, unless people are paying for cheap labor under the table and that couldn't be happening (sarcasim). I'm thankful people are finally taking a stand. "

 Okie wrote on March 21, 2007 5:47 pm:
" Maybe the American Indian should have Ms. Schnatz deported. "

 Kenneth Young wrote on March 21, 2007 5:50 pm:
" In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt "

 Jared Chulufas wrote on March 21, 2007 8:56 pm:
" I've been told many times in my life, due to my political philosophies, that I should move out of America if I hate the way it is. Yet, I've heard the same people aggressively attack the actions of this country's illegal immigrants, who in all reality aren't trying to destory our economy or rip off American taxpayers, they're trying to escape the atrocious conditions they endure in their own country. Hypocritical? Extremely. It's easy to oppose illegal immigrants when you dehumanize them. Instead of asking 'what do we do about illegal immigrants?' we should be asking 'what about their country, and more importantly, what about our country is causing people to enter illegally?' and remedy the issue from it's roots. It seems to me that maybe our immigration policies are too strict. People desperate to leave an impoverished Mexico may likely resort to crossing illegally if they've been turned down before. Why restrict legal entry if we know they're going to turn around and do it illegally and supposedly damage our economy? Wouldn't a legal immigrant have to pay taxes then? Seriously, give me good reasons (any xenophobic or racist answers will be ignored) why an increase in legal immigration would be a hinderance on our country. "

 Mike Honcho wrote on March 21, 2007 8:57 pm:
" I sympathize with the plight of the 'native' Americans more than most people...but how are the people of today supposed to be held responsible for travesties that were committed before their grandparents were even born?!? This whole argument that illegal immigration is okay because it was okay 250 years ago is ridiculous. Try to apply that argument to another crime (after all, there's a reason they call it "illegal" immigration), and our entire legal system falls apart (not to mention the fact that there were no laws to break back then). As far as the benefits the illegal immigrants receive, they get to work at a much higher pay rate than they could in their home country, albeit, at the expense of American workers. I will guarantee you that you can find current legal U.S. citizens who will roof houses, process animals, and do just about any job you can find...but they want a fair wage for that job...unlike the illegal immigrant, who will for much lower wages because they're still WAY higher than the wages in their homeland. Compounding the problem is the fact that we now offer illegal immigrants the opportunity to go to college at in-state tuition rates (something that legal U.S. citizens from outside Nebraska CAN'T get), and now you don't just have illegal immigrants taking the undesirable jobs, but middle class jobs too...and all of the sudden it's EVERYBODY'S problem. I guess if people are willing to wait for it to come to that...they should be ready to bite their tongue when they lose their supposedly 'secure' middle class job. "

 the other side to the story wrote on March 21, 2007 10:53 pm:
" many people in this country are so privileged and don't really recognize what goes on in other countries. The U.S. government, especially the CIA, interfere and corrupt leaders of foreign countries. the government cannot always be trusted. I know this from first hand experience being the first generation born in the U.S., with most family leaving their native country as the result of this and in fear for their lives. So therefore the government needs to change in relation to how it manipulates the politics of other countries, then maybe people would be safer in their own (The CIA is always training rebels (ex. Bin Laden). I would, just like my parents, would not leave a paradise such as their native country to come to the U.S, but are forced to do so when their lives are in danger. "

 WC wrote on March 22, 2007 8:47 am:
" Where do I sign up ? "

 Matt wrote on March 22, 2007 11:37 am:
" Newsflash! Dan Rather doen't deliver the news anymore! And how does this article fit into the media's role of concealing the news? "

 think about it wrote on March 22, 2007 11:42 am:
" Seems Like every time immigration is brought up all the uneducated rednecks come out the wood work......Has any stopped and looked at the facts about how much they actually pay in taxes? It is in the billions. Everyone seems to jump on the bandwagon. Everyone knows that they are here and they contribute a lot to this country. Just think how many businesses would be shut down if you just kicked them all out. Nebraska is already hurting for money imagine if you kicked them all out. Nebraska would lose millions of dollars. It's seems people have a noble cause but in reality everyone is just going to have to deal with it. Regardless if they like it or not. "

 voice of reason wrote on March 22, 2007 2:07 pm:
" This is a frustrating issue, certainly, and I'd like to point out some arguments for the undocumented workers. Our state however is dependent on undocumented workers. If we did not have them, our agriculture industry could not be successful. Who is receiving free welfare? These immigrants pay taxes and social security...they certainly will not draw on social security so in that way they are contributing to us. U.S. foreign policy of neoliberalism (e.g. NAFTA) has eliminated nearly all Mexican agriculture jobs. Our farm subsidies have crushed Mexico. It is cheaper for a Mexican farmer to buy corn (overproduced by us) than to grow enough corn for his family alone. Are they here illegally? Absolutely, some say 12M are here illegally. Perhaps instead of blaming the workers, we should reexamine our laws to be more reasonable. This is an issue in desperate need of reform "

 Mike Honcho wrote on March 22, 2007 3:21 pm:
" I disagree with the assertion that illegal immigrants can't draw on social security. If they steal someone else's identity, including their social security number, then they can receive just about every benefit our country has to offer. Everybody wants to portray illegal immigration as a victimless crime...which simply isn't true once you realize how widespread identity theft is within the illegal immigrant community. Furthermore, just because our country, or even state, appears dependent on illegal immigrants is not an excuse. People in Columbia and Mexico are dependent on the drug money that comes out of the U.S., so should we just legalize heroin and cocaine because it helps someone else's economy? It's time to stop making excuses for those who subvert the law, and start demanding enforcement of the laws that are in place. BTW, if I did choose to leave this country for whatever reason, I would make sure to follow the laws of whatever country I moved to...not for fear of repercussions, but out of respect to my new homeland. "

 majority wrote on March 22, 2007 4:16 pm:
" Great job Susan Smith!! Do we have to be from Fremont or Omaha to join? Illegal is just that, illegal. They need to go home and start over the correct way. Our language is English and if we break a law there are consequences. "

Ads by Yahoo!