Cheree Calabro, Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement, holds a paper containing different definitions Monday during her talk at the Frankfort Community Public Library as a part of the "Facts on Immigration" discussion presented by the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce. (Times Photo/Brent Drinkut)
KATE MEADOWS, Times staff writer
After 9/11, the American people wished and waited for someone of Middle Eastern descent to stand up and say that what those men did was wrong.
But no one of Middle Eastern descent did, said Rosanna Pulido. In front of a crowd of 300 at the Frankfort Community Public Library, she likened that situation to the silence surrounding a growing problem of illegal immigration in the U.S.
Only now, she, a Hispanic American, is the one to say something.
"Little did I know it would be my turn to stand up and say, 'This is not right,'" the representative of Federation for American Immigration Reform told a crowd in the library's Skanta Theatre Monday night.
No Spanish was spoken on stage, as the forum meant to inform residents about the facts of immigration drew a slew of mixed feelings.
"We want you to be a participant," said Gina Sheets, CEO of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce who introduced the evening's program. "If you see opportunities, become part of the solution."
The program, "Immigration by the Numbers," began with a short video, in which nationally known speaker Roy Beck used visuals to explain the math behind the immigration influx.
Beck argues that the central point to the immigration issue is the sheer numbers. Because of immigrants, he said, the United States has had to build twice as many schools, twice as many sewage plants and twice as many streets.
The four speakers who followed the presentation - Pulido, Allen County (Ohio) Sheriff Donald Beck, and Cheree Calabro and Greg Serbon, both with Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform & Enforcement - stuck to the illegal aspect.
Pulido, a native of Chicago, encouraged people to get involved in the illegal immigration fight, saying it would require going beyond the comfort zone.
"Our country is going down the tubes faster than I've ever seen it before," she said.
But it's not the elected officials who are to blame, she argues.
"If I had a mirror, I'd have each of you hold it up," she said, explaining it's the U.S. citizens who allow illegal immigration to occur.
In closing, Pulido offered to return to Frankfort to help start a group that would support elected officials in their fight against illegal immigration.
Calabro addressed the crowd with what she called a message of tough love.
She began by expressing her disappointment with the Nov. 15 forum at Frankfort Middle School, in which Notre Dame scholar Allert Brown Gort aimed to educate residents based on his extensive research.
"What we heard was a lot of emotion and misinformation," Calabro said of the event. "I was shocked to hear church and university leaders advocating lawlessness."
While Brown-Gort suggested that the word "illegal" only divides a community by creating barriers, Calabro said the community must use words such as that to accurately convey what's going on.
"Lumping all immigrants together does a disservice to immigrants who did the right thing," she said. "It's not that they intend to harm us. It's that they believe the hype that they're needed and good for the workforce."
Serbon reminded people that "illegal alien" is not a race.
"It never was. It never has been," he said.
He mentioned the 287g law, in which, through federal training, local law enforcement members can assist the Department of Homeland Security in enforcing immigration laws.
"Don't let your elected officials tell you it's a federal problem," he said, to applause. "It's a state and local problem, too."
The problem is local, Sheriff Donald Beck said, because the federal government won't know there are illegal aliens in a community if community members don't speak up.
With a PowerPoint presentation full of highlighted front page Allen County news articles, Beck maintained that the United States is a nation of laws.
In his 15 years as sheriff, Beck has trained jail staff to recognize illegal documents. He has worked with federal government officials to have illegal aliens in his county deported. He has built liasons in his county and encouraged businesses to use Social Security number verification services.
"You start working this problem and you're going to get beat up," he said. But, he added, many people want this problem solved.
There was time for six questions from audience members at the end of the program.
"We're not looking for statements from audience members," Sheets said.
Shouting, a Hispanic woman asked Beck if he truly believed with such zeal that illegal immigration is the one problem that can fix everything.
Another woman wondered how she could protect her kids from stereotypes in the midst of all the talk about illegal immigration.
"You can use that excuse as much as you want," Beck responded, adding that officials would never profile a person because of skin color.
In the end, the presentation was met with reactions from both sides.
Mario Martinez, who lives with his family in Frankfort and understands English better than he can speak it, said the event left him feeling bad.
"I know they are saying truth," he said.
But, he added, he goes to church and he obeys authority.
Frankfort Deputy Chief Jeff Danner said he has been looking into the 287g law and is continuing to learn about it.
Sheriff Mark Mitchell plans to meet with Sheriff Beck today, and hopes the two can exchange stories about their own experiences with the issue.
"It's always interesting to hear a take from a fellow law enforcement officer," Mitchell said "A lot of the problems are the same unique problems."
Sheets said she thought the goal of the presentation was met.
"It's education and information," she said, "so people understand there is a legal process. There is a process here."
The next step, she says, is to continue with the community's Quality of Life meetings Mayor Don Stock has put into place. The next one, with a location yet to be determined, will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 6.
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