LOS ANGELES — Francisco Rivera is a legal immigrant who delivered an impassioned speech to the Huntington Park City Council on Monday night, joining other residents in protest against their decision to appoint two illegal aliens to city commissions.
Rivera, who is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, told Breitbart News that he is opposed to honoring those who have broken the laws of the country. “You shouldn’t get special treatment or get rewarded if you break federal laws by coming illegally,” he said in an interview.
Here are Rivera’s full remarks (in the video, and transcribed, below):
Listen–Many of you guys don’t know me back here, but I’ll go ahead and introduce myself, a little—just, quickly.
Who am I? I’m a guy that has been volunteering, cleaning up our city for many years now. I’ve been living here in the city for 35 years, and I can honestly tell you I take down every ad, every graffiti, every sticker, every piece of trash that I see on the boulevard, I pick it up and put it in the trash.
(Interjection: Thank you.)
I can honestly tell you guys, I’ve been here for 35 years, and I’ve looked at you straight in the eyes, every single meeting. I never even knew these guys existed ’til now! I’ve never seen them in my life! All of a sudden they’re gonna get rewarded by breaking federal laws, ladies and gentlemen?
And if I’m not mistaken, I ask myself–doesn’t the City of Huntington Park receive federal money? But yet, you break federal laws! Or, you reward people that break federal laws.
We are a country, yes. But in this country we have laws and rules and regulations that need to be followed. How can we become—how can we be a great nation when we reward people that come to this country illegally?
I don’t have anything against immigrants. But there’s a difference between “immigrant” and “illegal immigrant.”
(Cheers)
And I ask myself: what part of “illegal” don’t you guys understand?
(Cheers, applause)
I mean, even a two-year-old—You know, it’s kind of funny how, I can honestly tell you, If I’m hungry and if I’m starving and if I break into somebody’s house, illegally, I’m gonna go to jail. But if I go and (knocks) knock on somebody’s door and say, “Ma’am, I’m really hungry. Can you do me a favor? Could you please make me a sandwich?” That’s the proper way to ask for something.
You shouldn’t get rewarded by breaking a law and say, “Oh, it’s because I was hungry.” “Oh, OK—so, hey, let’s all go to Huntington Park! Let’s all break doors open there, because they won’t do anything! In fact, they’ll probably reward you [for] breaking federal law.”
And by that, I’m thoroughly disgusted. And it’s very very sad, to be honest with you. And I hope that you guys take that under consideration. That, you know–not every immigrant that is here, is here illegally. And that’s the difference. Theres a right way to do things, and a wrong way. People shouldn’t get rewarded by doing the wrong thing. It’s not fair for guys like me. And it’s not fair for other people as well.
Thank you very much.
(Cheers, applause)
In an interview with Breitbart News Tuesday morning, Rivera reiterated:
You want to become part of this great nation–that’s fine, but you have to come through the right channels and background check. That’s what I see these people are not doing.
I went through all the process. I really appreciate this country and this great nation. A lot of these people, these teenagers, don’t appreciate it.
I have seen with my own very eyes how this country has gone down the drain when these people come into a community. I have heard guys say, “I don’t care about this country.”
I literally remember this one guy, he must have been about 19 years old, bald, holding a Mexican flag. He looked at the sheriff and he literally told the guy, “F- the USA.” I thought, And you want to be a part of this country? Look at what you’re doing, the way you act.”
People don’t have passion and love for this country, but when they are about to be deported they say, “Please don’t deport me!”
They only want to be a part of this nation when they’re threatened with being deported.
I see all the graffiti, the trash–they don’t take any pride in this country, gangs, drugs. If you come to this great nation and work and go to school and obey the laws, but if you’re here to cause problems, go somewhere else. People need to stop getting the handouts. It’s not right in this or any other country.
That’s why I go out for the past seven years and clean up my community. A lot of people think I do it for the city. In reality, I do it as a volunteer. I don’t like to see all this garbage. I’m trying to make a positive image for our community. When you are here and obey the laws, you take pride in your community. When someone comes to this country illegally, they don’t have the same pride in it.
People need to understand that not every immigrant supports immigration reform and I do not approve of it. You don’t cut in front of people in line and expect not to pay the consequences. That’s why we have rules and laws, not just in this country, but many countries. You need to get in line…
I do not approve of immigration reform. A lot of immigrants agree with me. I’ve talked to a lot of legal immigrants and they say, “I’m sorry, I do not approve of it,” and they get called traitors. I obey the laws and rules of this country.