The speaker of the House told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants recently that  enforcement of immigration laws in the United States is "un-American."

By William Lajeunesse
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants and their families that enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is "un-American."

The speaker, condemning raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, referred to the immigrants she was addressing as "very, very patriotic."

"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi told a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.

Video: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

"It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."

Pelosi said she was invited to the church by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., as part of his 17-city, cross-country tour called United Families, which he says is intended to put a human face on the immigration debate.

"We think that families are the cornerstone of our society and our nation, and an immigration system should preserve those families, not destroy them," Gutierrez told FOX News Capitol Hill Producer Chad Pergram on Tuesday.

The congressman is collecting petitions that ask President Obama to "stop the immigration raids and deportations that are tearing our marriages, families and children apart." He is expected to present those petitions when Hispanic members of Congress meet with the President Wednesday.

On Saturday night, Pelosi joined Gutierrez before a cheering crowd at St. Anthony's chanting, "Si se puede," or "Yes we can."

Referring to work site enforcement actions by ICE agents, Pelosi said, "We have to have a change in policy and practice and again ... I can't say enough, the raids must end. The raids must end."

"You are special people. You're here on a Saturday night to take responsibility for our country's future. That makes you very, very patriotic."

"I was embarrassed by what she said," said Rick Oltman, with Californians for Population Stabilization, an anti-illegal immigrant group. "Exhorting illegal aliens for taking responsibility for our country's future.... In fact, sitting there in the audience.... I really resented that comment."

"I think it was pandering to the crowd but also insulting to American citizens who consider themselves to be patriotic, who obey the rule of law," said Oltman, who shot a video of the rally.

For more on this story, watch Special Report With Bret Baier at 6 p.m. EDT on FOX News Channel.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Brew wrote on Mar 21^st, 2009 at 12:27pm:

Now THAT is scary!!!!

Perhaps in an attempt to show true bipartisanship Nancy wishes to keep the illegal aliens available as workers for all her wealthy republican friends.

God forbid some of those folks would ever have to pay a decent wage, or do their own gardening or housework.

just a thought.

with warm regards,
Tony

You know what I think...?

I think she is trying to persuade the Hispanic voters to cast their votes for her Party.

What do y'all think?

Steve G

Batch wrote on Mar 21^st, 2009 at 6:34pm:


If she is opposed to enforcing the existing laws, I disagree with her.

If the quote was accurate and she said "enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is un-American" she might have a valid point ... one might ask if kicking in doors in the middle of the night or separating families is characteristically American, or might be considered un-American.

When Sheriff Joe Arpaio sends his deputies to go out and sweep a neighborhood, and they arrest anyone who can't prove they are US citizens on the spot, I would argue that enforcement is out of control. I think that the Constitution should be upheld, and that law enforcement must have probable cause before they do searches and arrest people.  My grandmother has long lived in this country legally, but her English has always had a heavy accent.  Does that give Sheriff Joe and his type the right to throw my grannie in jail if she decides to go out to church or to shop without her US passport?  

Quote:

un amercan? seems like we've been doing that kinda stuff for years. it would seem that all their doing is enforcing the law. if she doesn't like it she can try to get the law changed.

i can sympathize with being separated from your family in a raid but isn't that the gamble you take when you come up here illegally?

The more I hear about the drug cartel wars spilling over into the US the more I realize there has to be stronger measures taken.

It would be nice if everyones constitutional rights are protected. However not everyone is entitled to a constitutional right. Human rights definitely. What are the provisions our constitution makes for foreigners invading our country?

with warm regards,
Tony

The argument I'm making is when people enter this country without following immigration laws they are breaking the law. Not being a US citizen does not give them a constitutional right. I assume the laws are there for an arguably good reason.

Is there a reason in the first place that the people coming here illegally do not go through the legal process, applying for a passport, work visa etc.?

It's probably a lot easier to find work here in the states without proving citizenship than it is to get a visa. If that is the case... (and there is still a high demand for the workforce they represent) wouldn't it be easier to just issue more visa's which would reduce the temptation to cross illegally?

I believe in human rights and am opposed to racial profiling. When I went to Norway a couple years ago... I always carried my passport with me, was I upset about it? No. Would I have been upset if I was asked to produce it? No. I was a guest in another country and it was my responsibility to be aware of and follow their laws.

Even as a US citizen If you are pulled over by a police officer while driving... one of the first things you are asked to do is present your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance. In some states it is illegal to drive without carrying these credentials.

I really do not see a huge violation of Human rights to be asked to follow our laws as long as the laws do not violate our constitutional rights.

with warm regards,
Tony

Thanks for clearing that up monty.

So I guess my proposal for the new universal ID would be met with a little resistance? 

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

with warm regards,
Tony