Immigration reform backers heading to D.C.

dreamy14 · 03-12-2010, 05:15 AM

"Dozens of South Florida undocumented immigrants and allies will board buses to the U.S. capital next week to attend an immigration reform rally at the National Mall."

Quote:

BY ALFONSO CHARDY
[email protected]

Posted on Friday, 03.12.10

Men and women from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and other countries are spending their evenings at a Homestead community center writing slogans on large white sheets of paper.

``No More Raids,'' says one. ``No to the Separation of Families,'' reads another. ``Obama, Keep Your Promises,'' says a third.

The placards convey the aspirations of hundreds of undocumented immigrants and their U.S-born supporters who plan to board buses next week in Homestead and other Florida cities to participate in a March 21 march and rally in Washington, D.C. urging President Barack Obama to champion immigration reform.

UNDOCUMENTED

``I'm going to Washington because the issue affects me personally,'' said Cynthia Moreno, an undocumented Mexican immigrant at Miami Dade College. ``I need the reform for myself, and for the millions of other undocumented immigrants living in the shadows right now.''

Moreno, 19, was one of about a dozen undocumented immigrants and supporters preparing placards this week at the offices of WeCount!, an immigrant rights organization in Homestead.

The rally comes at a time when the Obama administration appears ready to renew the uphill battle to legalize an estimated 10.8 million undocumented immigrants.

On Thursday, immigration reform advocates met with President Obama and were reassured of his commitment. Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are drafting a bipartisan immigration reform bill.

In a speech last June, Schumer expressed optimism about the legislation, saying that Obama's ``leadership will be the critical difference in getting us over the hump this time around.''

Immigration activists plan to bring tens of thousands of supporters and undocumented immigrants to the nation's capital rally as a way to intensify pressure on the White House to act quickly on immigration reform.

``Florida's participation in the Washington event is remarkable,'' said Ali Noorani, executive director of Washington-based National Immigration Forum, one of the groups involved in organizing the rally.

Noorani said Florida organizers were planning to send 40 busloads to Washington, including about half a dozen from South Florida.

SKEPTICAL

Moreno and the others are hopeful but skeptical of seeing legislation become law.

They desperately want immigration reform so they can stop being fearful of being deported, but are also tired of government promises.

Former President George W. Bush tried -- and failed -- several times to convince Congress to pass an immigration bill, while Obama last year put immigration reform on the back burner to advance healthcare reform.

``We have been fighting for immigration reform for years and nothing has happened,'' said Sebastián Sebastián, a 29-year-old Guatemalan artist in Homestead who will travel to Washington on one of the buses. ``It's time the government fulfills its promises.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/1...s-heading.html

ECW · 03-12-2010, 12:58 PM

Obama will be on a international trip for all these events, he's actually leaving on the day of the rally 21th for a 6 days... that's just great

arthur352 · 03-12-2010, 04:36 PM

I'm not worried about Obama its the congress we have to convince we can't really rely on his leadership

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Immigration reform backers heading to D.C.