Protesters call for immigration reform in rallies across Texas
© 2007 The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — Luis Romero came to the United States from Mexico City legally in 1998. The economics student said he believes immigrants, both legal and illegal, contribute much to society and the economy.
That's why Romero, 37, said he marched through downtown San Antonio on Tuesday evening to demand that Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform, and soon.
"They (illegal immigrants) have children, property," he said. "They pay taxes and they are here doing the hard jobs that other people don't want to do."
Protesters in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin, and El Paso joined demonstrators nationwide Tuesday to urge lawmakers to pass immigration policies that create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Many also condemned an increase in federal immigration raids and roundups.
San Antonio police Chief William McManus couldn't give a crowd estimate, but said while early on it looked like only a few hundred, "the numbers blossomed as the (march) started."
Organizer Che Lopez said he thought the turnout was as high as 5,000. Before ralliers began marching, they listened to dozens of speakers and observed a moment of silence for those who have died trying to cross the border into the United States.
Romero wasn't afraid to use one of the most politically charged words in the immigration debate.
"Amnesty is better than a worker program," he said, labeling as "bureaucracy" the proposals that would require illegal immigrants in the United States to return to their native countries to apply for citizenship.
Organizers of a Dallas march estimated the turnout at about 5,000, though no police estimate was available. They focused their protest on an ordinance before voters in the suburb of Farmers Branch that would make it illegal for landlords to rent apartments to illegal immigrants.
They began marching at a Catholic school, taking up more than a block. They held signs that said "No disintegration of families" and "si se puede" (yes, it can be done).
A year ago, up to a half million people gathered for a massive march and rally in downtown Dallas as part of a series of coordinated national protests intended to raise awareness on the issue of immigration reform.
"Last year these people were defending themselves. This time they're going on the offensive," said Manuel Rendon, 19, a U.S. citizen who lives in Frisco and attends Collin County Community College.
Most rallies were conducted in the late afternoon, so students and 9-to-5 workers could participate. Students left school in droves last year to join marches that drew hundreds of thousands, and administrators threatened to crack down on future violators.
Marchers in Austin planned to walk by the offices of Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison after a rally at the Capitol on Tuesday evening. Both voted against a Senate bill last year that would have allowed illegal immigrants a shot at citizenship.
"We feel they don't adequately represent the needs of immigrants and their children," said Cristina Tzintzun of the Workers Defense Project, an Austin advocacy group for Latino workers.
Hunger strikers were camped outside the Cornyn's Houston office. Over the next five days, they plan to move the protests to the Harris County Democratic and Republican headquarters, Hutchison's Houston office and two parks.
"We wanted to send a message to Congress," said Mike Espinoza, a community activist and one of six hunger strikers who will be fasting for six days. "Democrats and Republicans both have been stalling out on immigration reform."
About 70 people stood under the "Welcome to Texas" sign near an international bridge connecting Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, with El Paso.
The group chanted in English and Spanish, calling for immigration reform while walking downtown. They condemned immigration raids nationwide that have led to the deportation of undocumented workers and split them from their U.S.-born children. Law enforcement officials watched the rally, which was organized by La Union del Pueblo Fronterizo.
A small group of about 40 protesters stood in front of Houston's federal building, waving American, Mexican and Salvadoran flags.
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