Reid tells May Day rally: Country owes immigrants a ‘permanent solution’



A sea of marchers head southbound on Las Vegas Boulevard during a May Day rally and march for comprehensive immigration reform in downtown Las Vegas Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The event started at the George Federal Building downtown, then marchers traveled south to a rally at St. Louis Square near the Stratosphere.
Labor organizers, politicians and community leaders spoke in favor of passing the U.S. Senate “Gang of Eight” immigration reform package unveiled in April, which would create a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally while reforming visa programs and border security measures.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the crowd, many of whom were waving U.S. flags and wearing either red, white or blue T-shirts: “We’re going to get it done.”

“(This country owes) … the 11 million people a permanent solution. That’s what comprehensive immigration reform is all about: a permanent solution. And we are going to do that. We are going to fix a system that is broken. We are going to continue to work on a program that is tough but fair,” Reid said, flanked by Rep. Dina Titus, D–Las Vegas; Rep. Steven Horsford, D–North Las Vegas; and Blanca Gamez, a UNLV graduate who recently received a work permit through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

While the speakers addressed the crowd from a podium on the steps in front of the Lloyd George Federal Building, a small counter-protest of approximately a dozen people — one of whom held a sign reading “Do your job, defend the constitution” — did their best to make their voices heard using a bullhorn.

Karen Steelmon, one of those against the reform bill, held a sign calling it a “train wreck” and said the legislation was being rushed through the Senate.

“We don’t have any idea what the future implications will be for the economy,” Steelmon said of the reform package. “I think it should be a case-by-case basis. … They should have to prove they can support themselves, they won’t be a public charge and not causing trouble while they are here, and you shouldn’t be eligible for citizenship based on time spent here.”

More than 20 organizations participated in organizing the event, including the AFL-CIO of Nevada, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Dream Big Vegas, Culinary Union 226, SEIU Nevada, Mi Familia Vota, and many other labor, progressive and Hispanic community organizations.


This will be another welfare soaker that will cost billions to fund.
Millions of dollars given fraudulent non-profit organizations.

Even deportation only works as long as the bus is in motion......

What the liberals are doing is bringing more democratic voters into our country. Giving them benefits that should go to the American taxpayers, at the expense of American tax payers.
This would probably put the lid on any hopes of an economic recovery in the US.

I'd like to know what those signs say, but I don't read jibber jabber

They all got time to protest because they're welfare rats

Lemme see now.

The original settlers (immigrants) used skill and worked for something, to better themselves.

So that means the new immigrants don't have to? I want to immigrate to the USA!

Oh wait, I'm footing the bill as I'm already here.

QUOTE: "More than 20 organizations participated in organizing the event, including the AFL-CIO of Nevada, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Dream Big Vegas, Culinary Union 226, SEIU Nevada, Mi Familia Vota, and many other labor, progressive and Hispanic community organizations.
This will be another welfare soaker that will cost billions to fund.
Millions of dollars given fraudulent non-profit organizations."


The AFL-CIO ? This must mean that the various prostitutes unions of Las Vegas and greater Nevada along with similar unions of sex-trade workers must have supported this effort; the Las Vegas Union of Prostitutes; SWAA (Sex Worker Activists, Allies & You; SCAPA; Sex Workers without Borders; COYOTE and GMB(Brothel Union Workers). This says a lot about supporting any and all reforming efforts of the vast amount of often contradictory and even oppressive policies directed at valid immigrants. Interesting as to speculate on reasons why the AFL-CIO affiliated prostitutes unions would support immigration reform...

The signs say, "We want your Social Security, medicaid and all form of welfare benefits for our families".

Notice that "Illegals" are now being called "Immigrants"?

perhaps they should change the term to 'international trespassers'....

perhaps that's more accurate

I don't understand why they only say immigration reform , as that could be any number of things

I want to know which things SPECIFICALLY They want to reform?

change income requirements ?(as it is, we have a hard enough time sustaining the poor born here and don't invite the poor from other places to live, without some RESORUCE that agrees to support them once they arrive)

change criminal background checks?

what is it about the current immigration law that needs to be reformed?

"Reformed" is code talk for finding new ways to spend someone else money.

"Immigration reform" is code for "giving illegal immigrants (or international trespassers) amnesty".

Not just amnesty. We are talking about adding 12 million illegals
access to our ever depleting social welfare funds.

I just call em criminals

Not surprised, thanks for clearing that up lol

One way to look at the entire 'illegal' question is to figure out who allowed most of the posters against 'illegals', to immigrate here. May older generations just came in with no immigration controls at all as with the first settlers or they came on their backs, again with little or no immigration control and proceeded to shoot their way west while trying to wipe out the native populations. The natives never formed a govt. to process any of you or your forefathers as legal immigrants; the natives were just targets to be shot, which leaves hordes of illegals to form a govt. and process more illegals re-defining them as legal immigrants and carry on trying to wipe out the natives. By that logic, all so called 'illegals' should also just shoot their way in and try to wipe out the 'new natives' that replaced the old native Indian populations...Sounds quite logical...
Should these new 'illegals come armed or would the NRA distribute weapons with ammo and oversize magazines to them upon crossing the borders making sure that everyone shares in the 2nd amendment...their very first direct experience to becoming a new 'legal' citizen...

usually when people try to force themselves in, it results in wars

lets hope people can be more civil than that

Let's just use the MEXICAN immigration laws & give them the old "tit for tat" & see how they respond. Fair seems fair to me.

THIS COUNTRY OWES NO ONE ANYTHING.

Give Texas back to Mexico.

That way everybody is happy. Texans get to succeed from the Union, and Mexicans have more space.

Is this 'permanent solution' anything like Hitler's "final solution?'