Dozens protest illegal immigration in Idaho Falls

As the national immigration debate heats up, people protested against undocumented immigration in hundreds of cities around the nation Saturday.

Several local Tea Party chapters organized a protest on the I-15 Sunnyside overpass in which protesters displayed signs reading “No amnesty” and “Dial #1 for English, dial #2 for deportation.”

“They need to go home,” said Maxine Pope.

Anti-illegal immigration protesters were soon joined by counter protesters, including former Congressman Richard Stallings.

“We are a nation of immigrants. All of us other than Native Americans came from somewhere else and to pick on the Hispanics — the Latinos — is just wrong,” said Stallings.

Some at Saturday’s protest are putting the blame for the recent surge in immigration on the White House.

“What this guy is pulling — he’s shucking and jiving everybody,” said Jiam Rath, referring to President Barack Obama.

Organizers of Saturday’s protests say up to 12,000 people took part in more than 300 protests around the nation.