Immigration
Caravan Demands Reform
By
Priscilla Cromer
The
New York Immigration Coalition along with sister activist groups, organized a
statewide road trip intended to highlight the need for comprehensive immigration
reform. The caravan departed from New York City on February 15th, 2010 made stops
here at Sodus St. John's Episcopal Church, at Rep. Eric Massa'a (D) Pittsford
office, Rep. Chris Lee's (R) office in Greece and finally ended at the Federal
Immigration Center in Batavia.
Of
particular concern in our region are the towns of Brockport, Sodus and Newark,
where there are high concentrations of undocumented farm workers. Families are
randomly stopped by police on their way to church and turned over to immigration
authorities. They are often detained while waiting at long distance bus depots,
leaving families divided and children separated from parents.
"The
system is broken" said Sister Phyllis Tierney, justice coordinator for the
Sisters of St. Joseph in Rochester, and also a member of the caravan. She said
the group came with the intention of demanding the need to end discrimination
against undocumented immigrants and their families.
One
member of the group from Guilford, NY, said "deportation is not an option
for us. We can't lose people close to us."
Many
echoed her concerns as a group of 30 rallied in front of both representatives'
offices on the very cold, blistery Wednesday.
Communications
director for Eric Massa, Jared Smith commented, "We've heard from constituents;
it's an emotional and difficult issue. We're united that something needs to be
done. What that is, we're not at that point yet."
Some
members of the group met privately Rep Lee's staff. He made a statement via email.
"I
believe that our immigration policy should be based on the rule of law and those
who are in our country illegally should not be rewarded with taxpayer-funded benefits,
Lee said. I look forward to working to strengthen and improve our immigration
and border policies to uphold the rule of law and protect Western New York's economy
and agricultural sector.
The
group demands that legislation be passed soon as was promised during President
Obama's campaign. The rallies seek to remind the house and senate that passage
of a bill already introduced should happen soon.
In the course of a year,
400,000 immigrants are detained, 350,000 are deported said Ms. Chung Hong, executive
director of the New York Immigration Coalition.
"We
remind the president that immigrant communities expect him to deliver on his promise
to enact immigration reform. Immigrants won't be taken for granted", said
Ana Maria Archila co- executive director of Make the Road New York, an immigrant
community group from New York City.
The
coalition sites that despite President Obama's promise of comprehensive immigration
reform his administration has in fact not only continued the Bush era enforcement
measures but has expanded them.
"All
workers in America have a tremendous stake in seeing that comprehensive immigration
reform is passed this year, said Suzie Lozada, community organizer with the New
York Civic Participation Project. " We need reforms that restore fairness
in the workplace, ensure that all workers have legal status, and guarantee that
minimum wage and labor standards are effectively enforced."
One
of the points noted during the rally was, immigration reform makes good economic
sense and is good for business and workers alike. A recent study found that comprehensive
immigration reform would generate $1.5 trillion in additional gross domestic product
over 10 years and boost wages for native born and newly legalized workers alike.
Mass deportation would reduce GDP by $2.6 trillion over ten years.
There
are currently about 12 to 15 million undocumented immigrants living in the United
States.
A national rally
is expected to take place in Washington D.C. on March 21. The goal is to garner
100,000 supporters in that effort.
