California Coalition for Immigration Reform

. It was founded in 1994 by Barbara Coe, a former police clerk who has served as chairwoman of the organization ever since. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Nativists
work = Intelligence Project
publisher = Southern Poverty Law Center
date = 2005
url = http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=969
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ] According to the organization's website, its objectives are to "promote and expand citizen and legal resident awareness by a practical, effective communication network" and to "mobilize citizens and legal residents to support elected representatives and legislation" who favor immigration reduction. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = "Our Credo"
work =
publisher = CCIR
date = 1999
url = http://www.ccir.net/mission.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ]

The CCIR was a co-author of California Proposition 187 (1994), which would have denied public services such as education to illegal immigrants. The proposition was approved by the electorate but overturned by a federal court.

CCIR stages annual Fourth of July rallies that have drawn participants & spectators from both sides of the immigration issue.Fact|date=February 2007

CCIR has sponsored billboards along the Arizona-California border that read, "Welcome to California, the Illegal Immigration State. Don't Let This Happen to Your State." [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = CCIR Billboards
work =
publisher = CCIR
date = 2000
url = http://www.ccir.net/BILLBOARD/BBphotos.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ]

The group was investigated by the FBI in 1996 and 1998 because it had placed signs near polling places stating that non-citizens may not vote. [cite news
last = Delson
first = Jennifer
coauthors =
title = State Investigating Intimidating Letter Sent to O.C. Latinos
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Los Angeles Times
date = 2006-10-17
url = http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-scare17oct17,1,5513175.story?coll=la-headlines-politics&ctrack=1&cset=true
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ]

In 2006, a letter connected to Republican congressional nominee Tan D. Nguyen which warned immigrants that they may be deported if they vote was issued on what appeared to be CCIR letterhead. [cite news
last = Wisckol
first = Martin
coauthors = Dena Bunis
title = State investigates allegations of voter intimidation in California
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Orange County Register
date = 2006-19-19
url = http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/15801347.htm
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ] However, Coe said the letterhead was fraudulent. [cite news
last = Delson
first = Jennifer
coauthors =
title = State Investigating Intimidating Letter Sent to O.C. Latinos
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Los Angeles Times
date = 2006-10-17
url = http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-scare17oct17,1,5513175.story?coll=la-headlines-politics&ctrack=1&cset=true
accessdate = 2006-10-26 ]

The CCIR is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which quotes Coe as referring to Mexican immigrants as "savages". [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Anti-Immigration Groups
work = Intelligence Report
publisher = Southern Poverty Law Center
date = 2001
url = http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=175
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2007-02-11 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.ccir.net/ California Coalition for Immigration Reform]