May 17, 2006

Washington, DC—You Don’t Speak for Me!, a new national coalition of American Hispanics that supports immigration enforcement, is joining with nine members of the House of Representatives to respond to President Bush’s Monday evening address to the nation and to urge the Senate to pass an immigration enforcement only bill. Members of the You Don’t Speak for Me! coalition will be renewing their call for swift Senate action on an enforcement only bill at a Capitol Hill news conference on Wednesday, May 17. They will be joined by House members who have signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, urging him to bring a strong enforcement bill to the floor.

You Don’t Speak for Me! reacted to President Bush’s decision to send National Guard troops to the border, calling it a “small gesture toward dealing with an enormous national problem.” The group’s chairman, retired Col. Al Rodriguez stated that “the deployment of National Guard troops is a welcome development, but it will not make up for decades of neglect of our illegal immigration crisis by this and previous administrations. The American public, including millions of U.S. citizens of Hispanic heritage want to see concrete action taken to control our borders, enforce laws against employers who hire illegal aliens, and encourage people who are here illegally to leave.

“We share the views of the vast majority of Americans that granting amnesty to people who broke our immigration laws is wrong and a prescription for chaos,” continued Rodriguez. “Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is the first obligation of President Bush and Congress and that priority must not be held hostage to the demands of illegal aliens and a few special interests.”

The You Don’t Speak for Me! coalition was formed in response to the recent street demonstration by illegal aliens and their supporters all across the country, and to portrayals in the media that these protests and boycotts represent the views of mainstream American Hispanics. New studies by the Heritage Foundation and other policy analysts cast new doubt on President Bush’s amnesty proposal, indicating that the costs of such a program would be staggering.

“All Americans pay a steep social and economic price if the Senate backs the Bush amnesty proposal,” Rodriguez said. “As Americans and as people of Hispanic background, we are proud to join with members of the House who are urging their Senate colleagues to act in the interest of the nation and all of its citizens. Those who want to protect this nation’s security and preserve the jobs and wages of American workers speak for us.”

The press conference featuring Col. Rodriguez and other leaders of You Don’t Speak for Me! will take place Wednesday, May 17 at 2:30 pm on the terrace of the Cannon House Office Building (in case of rain, the news conference will take place in Room 2218 of the Rayburn House Office Building).

For more information please contact Ira Mehlman (213) 700-0407.