(15 Jul 2014) Protesters carrying "Return to Sender" and "Go home non-Yankees" signs faced off with immigrant rights activists Tuesday in a small Arizona town after a sheriff said a bus filled with Central American children was on its way.
The rallies demonstrated the deep divide of the immigration debate as groups on both sides - and in similar numbers - showed up in Oracle to speak out on the issue.
It turned heated at times, with shouting matches and a group of mariachi musicians getting shoved before the skirmishes were quelled.
Anger has been spreading in the town of Oracle since Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu warned residents last week that immigrant children from Central America caught crossing the border illegally would be placed at the Sycamore Canyon Academy in Oracle.
Protesters were hoping to mirror demonstrations in Murrieta, California, when immigrants were taken there recently.
"We are not going to tolerate illegals forced upon us," protester Loren Woods said.
No immigrant children had arrived as of midday, and it wasn't clear if they would ever show up. Babeu's office cited "whistleblowers" within the Department of Homeland Security that immigrant children were being sent there.
A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, said the congressman's office was told by the federal government that children would not be arriving Tuesday.
The dueling groups each had about 50 people.
Pro-immigrant supporters held welcome signs with drawings of hearts.
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A massive surge in unaccompanied children crossing the border illegally began more than a month ago, turning the issue into a major political debate in Washington and in cities across the U.S.
The fallout began in late May when reports surfaced that immigration officials were dropping off hundreds of women and children at Phoenix and Tucson Greyhound bus stations after they had been caught crossing the border illegally.
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