Valley Groups Plan to Participate in More Rallies
By Vanessa Colon, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
Mar. 28–Immigrant-rights groups in the Central Valley say they favor legislation that will not make illegal immigration a felony.
And they say they will join local protesters in Fresno and Farmersville today to make their voices heard as the U.S. Senate begins debate on its version of new federal immigration laws.
Leonel Flores, of Union de Exbraceros e Inmigrantes, said groups across the nation plan to march April 10.
But, he said, if the Senate approves an immigration policy that’s considered punitive, groups may turn the April 10 march into, or plan for May 1, a nationwide boycott. Flores, who is in contact with immigrant rights groups throughout the nation, said the boycott could involve people not going to work, school walkouts or a number of other options.
“There will be a reaction nationally if they don’t listen to our voices,” Flores said in Spanish.
Rufino Dominguez, general coordinator of Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities, said in Spanish: “I think the politicians shouldn’t ignore the protests. If they want to go against the people, there will be serious trouble for them. Some of them will lose in the upcoming election. Many immigrants will become citizens and vote.”
Dominguez said he doesn’t expect the legislation to be perfect, but he hopes it at least doesn’t make undocumented immigrants into felons.
Before flying back to Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said he supports a comprehensive immigration package that includes a labor shortage provision, addressing the hotel, construction and agricultural industries, a path to legalization for working immigrants and securing the border. Costa, who is of Portuguese descent, said: “We are a nation of immigrants.”
He said massive protests can sometimes be counterproductive because they can bring “fear.” Costa, however, said: “It’s important to voice opinion.”
Advertisements
Holiday Pools
—–
Copyright (c) 2006, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.