On Friday and Saturday, August 5-6, the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina (AMEXCAN) and the consulate general of Mexico set up shop in the Greenville Convention Center on Greenville Blvd., Greenville to give identification to illegal immigrants in order that they can work in the state, vote, and receive US services. The Mexican Consulate sold passports, Matricula Consular ID cards, and birth registrations for children born in the US to hundreds of Hispanics. A voter registration drive was also held. The only reason for the Mexican Consulate's visit is to "document" the "undocumented" by giving identification to people in this country illegally. Those here legally would not need such documentation to be provided to them. To add insult to injury, the Consulate set up shop in a city facility built and funded by taxpayers. The City of Greenville is wrong to sanction the conduct of an event that gives illegal aliens access to documentation that will make it easier to remain in the U.S. illegally.

    ALIPAC (Americans for Legal Immigration PAC), the Eastern NC Tea Party, NCFIRE (North Carolinians for Immigration Reform & Enforcement), and others held a protest outside the Greenville Convention Center on Saturday morning, from 8:00 to 12:00 noon. There were approximately 25 protesters who held signs supporting H.B. 33, the Voter Photo ID, or protesting against this attempt by the Mexican Consulate to circumvent US laws and procedure while on the very property that taxpayers pay for. Drivers passing by on Greenville Blvd. eagerly showed their support for the protest.

    Our elected officials have taken up the fight against efforts to harbor illegal immigrants. On March 30, the NC House passed House Bill 33 - "Consular Documents Not Acceptable as ID." This bill states that matricular consular cards and other embassy documents are not acceptable (inadequate) to prove a person's identity or residency for any government or law enforcement purposes. Furthermore, no local government is permitted to find them acceptable - either by local ordinance or policy. The bill now sits with the State Senate and has already passed the first reading. It is no wonder that AMEXICAN and the Mexican Consulate are trying to issue all the documents they can right now.

    NCFIRE is a statewide, non-profit grassroots organization and our purpose is to ensure that our immigration laws are being enforced in North Carolina. ALI-PAC is a national organization founded to address the disparity between the public's desire for proper enforcement of immigration laws and more control over illegal immigration and the actions of lawmakers. Varied polls indicate that over 75% of America's legal citizens want more done to control illegal immigration, yet only a minority number of elected officials in the US Congress and Senate are willing to address this concern.

    Anyone interested in learning more or wishing to be put on a mailing list with NC FIRE or ALIPAC should visit their websites. Also, Mr. James Johnson of NC FIRE will be visiting with the Eastern NC Tea Party in October (date to be announced) to talk about illegal immigration in the state and its impact.

See also:
1. www.ncfire.info
2. http://www.alipac.us/
3. http://www.cecilcalvert.com/2011/05/12/by-james-johnson-nc-fire-north-carolina-the-following-are-18-facts-which-prove-that-illegal-immigration-is-an-absolute-nightmare-for-the-u-s-economy%E2%80%A6/

    Diane Rufino has her own blog For Love of God and Country. Come and visit her. She'd love your company.