July 12, 2007

WFMOJALI: Curt Thompson tells illegal aliens to stay in Georgia, get involved

The fourth installment of "Working for Mexico, or Just Acts like it?" continues with Georgia state senator Curt Thompson, who recently wrote an opinion piece for a Hispanic publication in which he told illegal aliens to remain in his state: they should "stay calm, stay put and get involved". Because he refers to voting and also to "immigrants" - without once using even a euphemism like "undocumented" - it's unclear to whom his remarks are directed exactly.

However, since his discussion revolves around recently-passed Georgia laws SB 529 and SB 38, both of which were designed to reduce illegal immigration and as far as I know have no impact on the legal variety, it's clear that he is in fact encouraging illegal aliens to remain in his state.

In the piece he engages in the usual name-calling and compares legalizing illegal aliens to the Civil Rights movement. He also encourages Latinos to vote; while in that case he could be speaking only of those who are eligible to vote, I tend to be a bit suspicious. Perhaps everyone would be better off if Thomson would make it clear whether he supports illegal aliens or non-citizen immigrants voting and whether he only wants legal immigrants to "stay calm, stay put and get involved".

Whether Thompson is far-left, an opportunist, or something else isn't known, but he has made at least three appearances with former Mexican consul general Teodoro Maus, someone who's been very active in supporting illegal immigration in that state. Thomson appeared at a news conference with him, at another event, and also appeared at an illegal immigration march with him (as well as with Pedro Marin.)

Posted to Immigration2007a at July 12, 2007 12:54 PM