How Americans changed the view of Legal and Undocumented Immigrants specially Mexicans after the attacks of September 11, 2001?.




Republicans representatives are the most outspoken against Legal and Undocumented Immigrants producing more than 350 bills for their political purpose against according to them undocumented Immigrants. What about their Families? What about their children? Majority of them are U.S. Citizens; And at least one of their parents maintained a legal Status. Again Republicans Political representatives continues blind toward the root of the main problem on Immigration. The Dysfunctional and obsolete system. I believe this Country was founded by Immigrants with a faith towards a common purpose. The American Dream.

Latinoamericanos en Accion was founded the month terrorists took down the Twin Towers.

Maybe it's irony or cruel coincidence that the Hispanic advocacy group is closing its books the month the S.C. General Assembly is discussing how best to implement Undocumented immigration laws.

It's ironic because the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks changed how Americans viewed the world, which led to more scrutiny of international visitors. That scrutiny is fixed upon those who cross the U.S.-Mexican border - even though the hijackers didn't enter the U.S. that way, the Canadian border is twice as long and half as protected, and Russian students and South African and Brazilian visitors also purposefully overstay visas. A few decades prior to that day, the U.S. even quietly accepted undocumented workers and President Ronald Reagan provided them amnesty.

And it's cruel coincidence because the need for such an advocacy group has never been greater, because legislators in Columbia are basing laws on faulty research provided by anti-immigration groups; because Hispanics - undocumented and legal residents - face increasing hostility; because an assortment of institutions is trying to serve a group that is growing exponentially.

"We still need a service agency here," said Lee Bollinger, a Coastal Carolina University professor and the group's treasurer. "I think it would have worked if the sentiment here would have been better."

But every time Bollinger spoke in public, she got angry phone calls from residents who wanted Hispanics deported.

She and others tried to save the group. They changed its name to "Latin American Service Organization" because some residents said the original named sounded militant.

They held meetings with businesses to make them aware of what they offered - training opportunities, a place to bridge cultural differences that hamper business transactions and service, a repository of accurate information, a group that helps documented Spanish-speaking clients and urges undocumented workers to enter proper legal channels.

"I'm a child of immigrants. I feel that laws should be for everyone," said Miriam Berrouet, the group's president. "We did everything we could to get them legalized. We tried to blend the two cultures together as best we could."

And they met with area chambers of commerce and discussed creating an S.C. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The head of the Hispanic chamber in Atlanta counseled them. A handful of area businesses were receptive, but the idea couldn't gain traction with donations and public support in short supply.

"We were willing to work with them," said Brad Dean, head of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "They did challenge us on whether or not we truly understood and would support the need for Hispanic businesses, especially related to legislative needs. We need a sensible solution to our immigration problem and that means tighter enforcement at the federal level."

But while that idea died and various people are trying to step into the void, the Hispanic population - its legal and Undocumented parts .

Victor Rivera Jr., owner of USA Services, which helps Spanish-speakers navigate the economy, said 100 area Hispanic-owned businesses would have joined such a chamber. Many of them are made to "go down the long road [of red tape], which is expensive," feel intimidated by anti-immigrant sentiment, and have employees and clients who live in fear.

He does, as well, even though he has provided up to eight area jobs, is a citizen who moved here from New York in 1989 and decided to help the needy after promising God after his wife survived cancer.

"I am a grown man fearing injustice," he said, adding that he's felt disrespected by judges and had attorneys warn him about being too active in Hispanic affairs. "I don't deal with anyone who violates the law, just people who are doing everything the right way but are being hampered by the system."