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Monday, November 16, 2009, 2:01 PM EST - posted on NumbersUSA

More than 50 Anti-Amnesty tea party rallies were held across the nation this weekend. The events were put together by Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC), but NumbersUSA played a role in the events held in Alexandria, Va. and Pasadena, Calif.

High unemployment rates, overpopulation, and declining public services motivated grassroots activists to attend one of the many tea parties. While not drawing huge crowds, the events were planned on short notice, and could point towards a growing movement.

Several hundred turned out for the event in the border city of San Diego that's consistently in the crossfire of the illegal immigration issue. Just a two months ago, three vans crashed the border trying to smuggle people across the border illegally. Protesters in San Diego said Saturday's protest was only the beginning.

"It is not fair for those in power to give our country away to illegal immigrants," said a San Diego attendee. "This is my first rally and it looks like I’ll have to attend many more to make sure this travesty doesn’t come true."

In Alexandria, protesters stood outside of Rep. Jim Moran's (D-Va.) district office, fighting against any amnesty plans from Congress.

"If the situation continues as it is, we are powerless unless we speak out like this," an attendee said. "Cut off the funds and maybe they will go home."

Hundreds turned out at a rally in the embattled city of Phoenix where American Citizens United helped organize the event.

"We need to have borders, secure borders. We cannot give amnesty, because once you say amnesty, they keep coming more and more," said Anna Gaines from ACU.