Not all immigrants supported Monday?s nationwide protests.
“I think it?s atrocious,” said Josephine Velazquez, who came with her mother to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 1963.
Velazquez has lived in Carroll County for 20 years, and has twice run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Westminster City Council.
She had little sympathy for those who are here illegally and found it ironic that they feel the need to protest the country that helps support their families abroad.
“They should go back to their own country and see what happens when they protest there. Don?t come to our country and put us down for not helping you. We are helping you. My taxes go to their medical bills. I am not for free handouts,” said Velazquez, who added her mother followed the rules to obtain U.S. citizenship legally and taught her children to learn English and respect the rule of law.
Velazquez said playing by the rules does not mean letting go of her family’s heritage. Her three children know English and Spanish and are proud of their roots.
Velazquez said she winced at the sight of thousands of protesters waiving Mexican flags at recent protests.
“When you are in the U.S., you better fly the U.S. flag first. If you want to fly the Mexican flag, go back to your country, and do it there,” said the U.S. Army Veteran.
Velazquez blamed cheap employers and the country?s porous borders for the current immigration crisis.
“Americans would do a lot of the jobs the illegal immigrants are doing, if only employers stopped paying under the table and started to pay fair wages.”
