Hundreds of people braved strong winds and dust to march in support of immigration reform today. The march was organized by the Border Network for Human Rights to draw attention to the ongoing debate over immigration reform in the United States.
The march began on the UTEP campus and proceeded down Oregon Street to San Jacinto Plaza in Downtown El Paso. A large number of marchers carried American flags and banners while some carried Mexican flags. School children also participated in the march, many of them carrying flags and signs of their own.
After marchers circled San Jacinto Plaza and gathered around the pavilion, they listened to BNHR organizers call for comprehensive immigration reform and for the fair and humane treatment of immigrants in our country. Organizers led the crowd in various cheers; “Aqui estamos, y no los vamos,” we are here, and we are not going, many of them chanted.
Saul Soto, Administrator for BNHR, said the march was schedule to mark the one-year anniversary of last year’s nation-wide protests against proposed legislation that would have made it illegal to aid an undocumented immigrant, among many other restrictions. “We were more defensive last year,” he said. “This year we’re more proactive.”
Soto said the BNHR is encouraging people to write letters to members of Congress calling for reform that will help people in need, not simply call for more enforcement efforts. “Militarization doesn’t help,” he said.
Several political leaders from around the El Paso area were also on-hand to show their support for the march. Sunland Park Mayor Ruben Segura, Socorro Mayor Trini Lopez, El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez, and El Paso City Rep. Susie Byrd all spoke to a diverse crowd that included young children, high school and college students, and senior citizens.
Rodriguez encouraged the crowd to stay active in pushing for immigration reform. “Let’s stop this just like we stopped Sensenbrenner,” he said, referring to efforts made last year against legislation sponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, R- WI, that many said criminalized immigrants and anyone offering help to them. The bill, HR 4437, was eventually passed by the House in 2005.
Rodriguez said that having elected officials support events like the march is what is needed in order to deal with the issue of immigration. “It is extremely significant as border community,” he said.
Rodriguez criticized the way the government behaves toward immigrants. “The treatment of immigrants is totally contrary to the founding of our country,” he stated. He also stated that the plan recently put forth by the Bush administration is not what this country needs. “It divides families,” he said, “not unite them.”
Believing that many in the U.S. are blaming immigrants for problems that are not their fault, Rodriguez said, “people need to stop scapegoating immigrants; they’re going to be part of the labor force whether we accept it or not.”
Rep. Susie Byrd said the City has passed series of resolutions in support of comprehensive immigration reforms.
She also said that it is important to look at the issue from an economic development perspective. “We depend on travel of people and goods along the border,” she said. Byrd stated that certain proposed laws would make the border to the good things, such as shoppers and workers. “We need a safe border, but we don’t want law hindering a mutual relationship,” she said.
Milton Sanchez, a schoolteacher at Putnam Elementary, attended the rally with his wife to show their support for the cause. He echoed the calls of many of the speakers, saying that immigrants deserved fair treatment. “We feel strongly to have justice for all immigrants,” he said. “It’s part of their human rights.”
Rene Leon can be contacted at rene@newspapertree.com
