200 Illegal Immigration Opponents Attend Conference : Border: Organizers and participants hope to win passage of controversial Save Our State initiative.

Nearly 200 opponents of illegal immigration gathered Saturday for an all-day workshop on the issue, offering solutions to what some called the “out-of-control problem” of undocumented immigrants arriving here.

Groups from across the state that oppose illegal immigration and seek to cap the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country annually participated in the conference, organized by United We Stand America and held at the Sequoia Athletic Club. They said they hope to combine their efforts to win passage of the controversial Save Our State initiative, which sponsors hope to place on the November ballot.

Mark Sturdevant, coordinator of United We Stand America’s immigration task force, called the alliance’s plan to protect the country’s borders “tough love.”

The SOS initiative seeks to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving public social services, educational benefits and health care. It also would make it a felony to manufacture, distribute, use or sell false documents in order to obtain benefits.

The initiative needs the valid signatures of nearly 385,000 registered voters by June 30 to qualify for the November ballot. Sponsors have turned in nearly 600,000 signatures, of which more than 200,000 have been validated.

Speakers told attendees at the conference that there was still much work to be done to ensure the initiative’s passage.

During an afternoon workshop, speakers taught the group to express concerns by writing their elected representatives and local newspapers, calling radio talk shows and joining organizations that focus on immigration issues.

“We want to teach people how to be effective when talking to politicians,” said Alf Powers, spokesman for United We Stand America. “We aren’t here to rehash the issue, but to achieve solutions.”

Activist groups such as Save Our State and Californians for Population Stabilization were joined at the conference by State Rep. Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Arcadia); Phil Romero, chief economist for Gov. Pete Wilson; U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Yorba Linda Mayor Barbara Kiley, who supported the mostly older crowd’s desire to get involved in the immigration issue.

“The federal government has not defined the immigration laws and without a clear definition, there can be no solution,” said Cordelia Spicer, issues adviser to Ross Perot, whose 1992 independent presidential campaign gave rise to United We Stand America. “We want to be humane, but our laws have created an underground (society) of immigrants.”

Romero said groups opposed to illegal immigration have been accused of racism but contended the issue isn’t about race.

Wilson’s “concern (with illegal immigration) has nothing to do with race,” Romero said. “His sole concern is to lift the financial burden caused by illegal immigrants.”

Mountjoy agreed, saying: “What is racist about wanting to protect our borders? Nothing. It (the initiative) will pass because it is right and because it is supported by all races, religions and creeds.”