Lawmakers get hard messages

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

WASHINGTON - Sometimes, mail call hits Congress like a ton of bricks - literally.

One by one, opponents of illegal immigration have been sending lawmakers real, red bricks with angry messages written on the side: "Build a wall. Deport them all."

While hundreds of thousands of activists took to the streets Monday, lawmakers in Washington dealt with an increase in mail from supporters of a get-tough approach to illegal immigration.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., laughed about the heavy bricks he has found in his in-box, saying he'll have to weigh them against the letters and calls he receives from both sides.

"The question I have is, how do they get that through security?" Allard said. "The second thing is, how did they afford the postage? Now that is a motivated citizen."

Allard and his fellow Coloradan, Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar, both have expressed concerns about illegal immigrants and their supporters staying away from their jobs or skipping school.

Salazar, whose office also received bricks in the mail, said, "I would hope people could have demonstrated during their off-hours, not during work and school hours. I believe it's important for all kids to stay in school and for workers to stay at their jobs."

Some analysts and immigrant rights supporters have warned that disruptive protests, work stoppages and boycotts could backfire by stirring up opposition.

That's a common theme of opposition mail Allard has been receiving.

One letter, which was wrapped around a brick and mailed to the senator, says: "I can't take a day off from work to go stand in the street and protest all day long like an illegal immigrant. But I did have time to send you this brick so that you could get started building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico."

The writer, whose name was redacted by Allard's staff, warned that he would oppose any politicians who vote to give "amnesty" to illegal immigrants.

It was signed, "Mad as hell."