Illegal Immigration Debate Fires Up in CA

Bob Kellar said believes the United States should have only one flag and one language. But it’s what he said after that remark that’s landed the Southern California city councilman in the spotlight. He said if believing in the American flag and the English language is racist, then he is “a proud racist.”

Kellar delivered those remarks at a January 16^th rally which he said he attended as a private citizen and not in his capacity as a Santa Clarita councilman. Nevertheless, Kellar stood by his remarks in an interview with the Los Angeles Daily News.

“I’m a conservative,” he told the newspaper. “I have a big problem with illegals. When are we going to stop all this foolishness? I stand by everything I said.”

But he later clarified his remarks to KHTS Radio and said his words needed to have been put in proper context. “I am not a racist,” he told the radio station. “I am a proud American who believes in the values that made this country great. If the media or anyone wants to take that and make it seem like it’s something else, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

His remarks have generated lots of debate on both sides of the illegal immigration issue.

Jorge Mario Cabrera is a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. He told The Signal newspaper that Kellar’s views may be outdated.

“I don’t believe that establishing ‘one flag, one language’ is necessarily racist,’ he told The Signal. “I do believe that it doesn’t correspond with the reality of the America we live in now.”

Kellar told The Signal that if immigrants want to be proud Americans, they should learn the English language — and he also recalled how offended he was when he said he saw more Mexican flags than American flags at the Rose Parade.

Kellar also chastened lawmakers who refuse to speak out against illegals.

“Shame on elected representatives who don’t have the intestinal fortitude to address the issue,” Kellar told The Signal. “I will not deviate that illegal immigration is wrong.”

6 Comments

Delaware Bob

January 27, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Illegal aliens are destroying this Country, and one would have to be almost blind not to see this. How much longer do we have to support these illegal aliens? How much longer do we have to school their illegal alien children? How much longer are we going to let them have our jobs? How much longer are we going to put up with all the crime, stolen identities, forged documents, fake green cards? How much longer are we going to allow these illegal aliens to send money out of this Country and bring our Country down? Oh, amnesty will correct all this. WRONG! Nothing will change except we wouldn't be able to call them illegal aliens any more. Let's get rid of these illegal aliens! Let's get them back to their own Country where they belong!
LLSinSCV

January 28, 2010 at 3:48 am

I live in Santa Clarita, CA and am a PROUD SUPPORTER of Councilman Bob Kellar. He is a patriot, he is a retired LAPD supervisor, he is a veteran, he is a business owner in Santa Clarita.
Concern

February 21, 2010 at 9:42 pm

I am an African American and is not a racist or a politician but this invasion of illegal into this country disturbs me. Is it me are have anyone noticed that businesses owned by Hispanic or Latino don’t hire any other ethnic groups. They also put signs on their businesses “Latino/Hispanic”. This implies that it is off limit to any other ethnic group. If a business owned by whites or blacks refuse to hire any other ethnic groups or put signs on their businesses specifying a certain ethnic group, they would be sued for discrimination. What happened to affirmative action law? This type of behavior is leading back to segregation. Any jobs that specify “bilingual only” should be reason for American people to file a litigation and discrimination suit. All American will be employed if this madness stops.
Sandra

April 30, 2010 at 12:34 am

I don't understand how people can advocate illegal immigration. It should be an option for the American taxpayer to provide them and their children born here social services. How many Americans have lost their jobs and aren't eligible to anything after they have put into the system. What happened to our "American dream"? Our classrooms are overcrowded so our children can't get the quality education needed. What is even better, now that AZ is FINALLY the first state to take action there will be a flood of illegals to all the states not taking action. You know CA can afford this when people are losing jobs, homes and having a hard time making ends meet. I would not have a problem showing a peace officer that I am a citizen multiple times a day. If this law passes in AZ, I will gladly retire and move over there. Plus to save the state some money, just release all the inmates in prison. If it's okay for illegal immigrants to break the law, what reason do we have to take any crime seriously?
mack henderson

May 6, 2010 at 11:35 am

under the mexicans laws on illegal immigration is felony punishable by up to two years in prison. immigrants who are deporte and attempt to re-enter can be imprisoned for 10 years.Visa violators can be sentencedto six-years terms. mexicans who help illegal immigrants are considered as criminal.this lews are a good lew for the United States. wight do you thank?