Immigrants look to find alternative reforms

Immigrants living in Carson City have pounded the pavement in protest, boycotted consumer goods and succeeded in stirring a sensitive, national economic issue to local prominence.

The difficulties posed by proposed immigration reform are not lost on several local immigrants and business owners. One Mexican-American business leader said comprehensive immigration reform is badly needed. It's going to be a hard road, but it will jolt a population that for too long has relied on breaking the law to get a better-paying job, she says.

One Carson City man who illegally entered the United States 23 years ago supports tougher border security.

A local business woman who became an activist back in the late 1980s because of her opposition to immigration law then, says the 12 million illegal immigrants estimated to be living in the country should to be put on a path to legalization. She believes this will end corporate domination of these workers and provide better wages for all.

Elvira Diaz, owner of Sierra Bakery, wants a law that's "human." She says the House Resolution, which passed in December, violates her Catholic religion. She wants to provide food and aid to the needy - illegal or not - and this bill would put her in constant fear of prosecution.

"I would need to ask for their paperwork before I could help them," she said.

The House resolution, which passed in December, would make it a felony - punishable by jail time - to live in the United States without authorization. It's a civil offense now. Illegal immigrants can now be jailed for a short time as part of the deportation process.

The bill criminalizes those who aid illegal immigrants. The religious community was just one of many groups to issue an outcry about that provision.

In March, the Senate Judiciary Committee supported a proposal that would put illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship, rather than making them felons. It supported many of the same proposals as the House bill, such as tougher border security, but it differed in proposing a guest-worker program. Senate legislation is stalled in the chamber.

Current laws are harsher on employers who hire illegal immigrants, rather than the workers. A 1986 law made it a crime to employ an undocumented worker. It's difficult to enforce with only about 5,600 Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents working across the United States. Employers must verify identification, such as Social Security numbers, but they often don't check the numbers with the feds. The House bill would require all employers to verify their employees' work status though a national computer system.

On the "Day Without Immigrants," held Monday on the Mexican holiday celebrating workers' rights, protesters boycotted all consumer goods and attended rallies held in nearly every major city across the country. About 1,000 people in Carson City joined more than 1 million illegal immigrants and their supporters across the country protesting the House resolution.

Researchers from the Pew Hispanic Center estimate that nearly 10 percent of Nevada's work force consisted of illegal immigrants in 2004, more than double the national figure. With a statewide job base in 2004 of roughly 1.1 million workers, that means about 105,000 workers in Nevada were undocumented that year.

Diaz, born in Mexico City, came to the United States with her American mother. She was one of three million granted amnesty by a 1986 bill. She's a trained chemist specializing in food science.

"They didn't follow the rules, I'm aware of that," she says about illegal immigrants. "As a religious leader I want to give legalization to 12 million people and then close the borders so it doesn't happen again."

Illegal immigrants in Carson City are scared of getting captured by immigration officials, Diaz says. Last week she made more than 80 sandwiches, which were delivered to immigrants who were too scared to leave their homes. That fear was spurred by a rumor that the immigration service was conducting raids.

"It was good business for me, but it made me so sad," Diaz said. "Hopefully we don't create a place where there's that terror."

She's supports legalizing 12 million alien workers, but it's a hard stance knowing that many people are respectfully following the law.

"That's very hard. I'm glad I'm not the one making the decisions. That's why I'm a baker. I sell coffee."

Rosa Garza hasn't joined the protesters because she isn't into complaining. She wants to advocate for change.

"What are you fighting for?" she asks. "You need specific examples, what are your points?"

Garza, who sits on the Nevada Hispanic Service advisory board, does not support illegal immigration. Those who are here should demonstrate their commitment to becoming citizens and then start the process like everyone else. They should learn English. Young men should register for the draft. They should pay taxes. She says immigration laws need reform because they aren't working.

Garza immigrated to the United States 10 years ago from Mexico City. She mentors others in professional advancements as part of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Jose Torres, owner of Master Auto Body, is tough on illegal immigrants.

And he was one.

Torres illegally crossed the border in 1983 to escape a bloody civil war.

"There was a civil war in El Salvador, 100,000 people were killed," he says. "I was 16 and you either joined the Army or you joined the guerillas. I did neither. I was afraid to die too young. So I was looking for the American dream like anybody else."

The 42-year-old father of three was also granted amnesty in President Reagan's bill.

He supports the House bill's proposal to place more fencing along the Mexican border and install high-tech monitoring equipment. Torres keeps up on the news, and he is worried about the ease a terrorist would have in crossing the border.

"Even though I came over the border, now I feel like we need to secure our national security after Sept. 11," he said.

He even goes so far as to say that the military could be used to take over for the border patrol if it's not doing it's job.

In contrast to this get-tough stance, Torres would like to see the 12 million illegal immigrants put on a path to citizenship. As for the guest worker program, he doesn't think it will work.

"We have to take care of the problem inside the country first before we can even think about that," he said. "If we have a hard time finding workers then we can consider that."

He's a voter. If legislators have learned anything these last two months, it's that many voices coming together for a cause they believe in sound a clarion call for change.

Diaz, the baker, has another solution. She prays for the people who make the decisions.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.