California Coalition for Immigration Reform
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CCIR, NIF, FIRM, WAAA |
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California Coalition for Immigration Reform (CCIR) is a Huntington Beach, California-based political advocacy group devoted to immigration reduction. It was founded in 1994 by Barbara Coe, a former police clerk who has served as chairwoman of the organization ever since. [1] According to the organization's website, its objectives are to "promote and expand citizen and legal resident awareness by a practical, effective communication network" and to "mobilize citizens and legal residents to support elected representatives and legislation" who favor immigration reduction.[2]
The CCIR was a co-author of California Proposition 187 (1994), which would have denied public services such as education to undocumented immigrants. The proposition was approved by the electorate but overturned by a federal court.
CCIR stages annual Fourth of July rallies that have drawn people on both sides of the immigration issue.[citation needed]
CCIR has sponsored official-looking billboards along the Arizona-California border that read, "Welcome to California, the Illegal Immigration State. Don't Let This Happen to Your State."[3]
The group was investigated by the FBI in 1996 and 1998 because it had placed signs near polling places stating that non-citizens may not vote.[4]
In 2006, a letter connected to Republican congressional nominee Tan D. Nguyen which warned immigrants that they may be deported if they vote was issued on what appeared to be CCIR letterhead.[5] However, Coe said the letterhead was fraudulent.[6]
The CCIR is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which quotes Coe as referring to Mexicans as "savages".[7]
[edit] References
- ^ The Nativists (HTML). Intelligence Project. Southern Poverty Law Center (2005). Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ Our Credo (HTML). CCIR (1999). Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ CCIR Billboards (HTML). CCIR (2000). Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ Delson, Jennifer. "State Investigating Intimidating Letter Sent to O.C. Latinos", Los Angeles Times, 2006-10-17. Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ Wisckol, Martin, Dena Bunis. "State investigates allegations of voter intimidation in California", Orange County Register, 19-10-2006. Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ Delson, Jennifer. "State Investigating Intimidating Letter Sent to O.C. Latinos", Los Angeles Times, 2006-10-17. Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
- ^ Anti-Immigration Groups (HTML). Intelligence Report. Southern Poverty Law Center (2001). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
