‘Be Vigilantes’ on Borders, Utahns Urged

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a leading spokesman of the anti-immigration movement, encouraged Utahns to join the fight to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and keep undocumented workers from coming to the country.

“Be vigilantes,” said the Colorado Republican with a chuckle during a public forum Wednesday night. “The federal government has failed you — it’s up to you.”

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Immigrants have not only sapped public school budgets, but also have tainted class lessons, Tancredo said. It is not necessary to teach students about “cultures that haven’t made it” just to be politically correct, he said. He recommended that non-English speaking students should have no more than one year to learn English and after that should be forced into an English-only program.

Tancredo, who was regularly interrupted during his speech by people clapping, told the audience they should be proud to be anti-illegal immigration advocates because many times people with such views fear being labeled as a “racist.” He also called the Minuteman Project volunteers “heroes” for protecting the U.S.-Mexico border and standing up for what they believe in.

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