El Paso commissioners get their act together

“I think it’s shameful they do stuff like that,” said Central resident Armando Cardoza. “They say it’s not their job to enforce federal laws. It’s not their job to hinder that enforcement, either.”

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Commissioners support end to border fence, immigration raids
Posted: May 5, 2008 02:03 PM

By ABC-7 anchor-reporter Stephanie Valle

EL PASO, Texas - El Paso County Commissioners Court voted 3-1 Monday to adopt a declaration calling for a cease to construction on the border wall and a moratorium on immigrant raids.

Commisioners made the vote after hearing from more than a dozen county residents for and against the document.

Last week the Border Network for Human Rights asked commissioners to adopt its declaration, which comes on the heels of a immigrant raid in El Paso April 25th.

Commissioner Miguel Teran read the declaration, which called for a sensible solution to the federal immigration policy, the halting of the building of the border fence, and a moratorium on raids by local and state law enforcement.

At least a dozen residents from different parts of the city and county voiced their support of the declaration and asked for commissioners to approve it. That’s when the opposition spoke up.

Armando Cardoza, who was wearing a shirt with a U.S. flag pattern, told the court he was there to protect America .

“It is not your job to hinder the enforcement of laws,” Cardoza exclaimed. “If you support this all you do is kick the United States in the crotch.”

Sal Gomez bemoaned, “I am tired, tired, tired, of people that use the Border Network of Human Rights cover as a way to violate our laws. Immigrants’ woes are the consequences of breaking the law!” Gomez then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

He closed by asking the court, “Which flag do you represent?”

In a passionate appeal, Commissioner Luis Sarinana pointed out the Pledge guarantees “liberty and justice for ALL.” Pounding the bench, Sarinana bellowed, “Everyone has a right to be here whether we like it or not!”

Half the audience burst into applause while the two opponents jeered and waved small American flags.

Fernando Garcia from the Border Network told the court immigrants aren’t a part of the problem, they’re part of the solution. Garcia said he hoped this declaration could help bring immigrants to the right side of the law. “They’re only asking for the chance to live in peace,” he said.

Commissioner Teran agreed, saying this declaration helps put a stop to what he called “racist legislation” on the southern U.S. border.

Commissioner Dan Haggerty , who pointed out his family also immigrated from Ireland hundreds of years ago, said the declaration read very radically and the court is losing sight of the fact that there are laws on the books regulating immigration, and those laws need to be upheld.

“This is nonsensical. This is scary,” Haggerty exclaimed, pointing to language in the declaration that referred to corporations getting rich during the “bloody war in Iraq ” while keeping wages low.

“What’s scary is that the federal government is usurping rights,” Teran spat. “This is what happened in Germany to the Jews.”

The court then took the vote; Haggerty was the only one in opposition. County Judge Anthony Cobos was not present.