Advocates want to turn San Antonio into a "Safe Haven" for illegal immigrants


SAN ANTONIO -- Last week, hundreds of undocumented workers were fired after a silent raid at Lone Star Bakery. This week, they're firing back. Immigration reform advocates who stand behind the illegal immigrants are organizing a march.

Jaime Martinez, Board Chair for the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation is asking city leaders to make San Antonio a "safe haven" for undocumented workers and their families. Martinez is calling for immigration reform on labor rights, reunification of the family, and giving illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship.

"Close to 6 billion dollars a year is collected from these workers who do not have matching social security numbers," said Martinez in a press conference Tuesday. "We want the politicians to check the social security administration suspense files," explained Martinez. "[They're] going to be alarmed, that [illegal immigrants] do pay their fair share to America."

Martinez explained, many undocumented workers have been working in this country and paying taxes for years -- taxes that they will never collect on.

"They have children, they have houses to pay for, they belong to PTAs, they go to schools, they belong in the community," said Martinez.

Also attending the press conference was a representative from United Food and Commercial Workers, a worker's union that stands for achieving the American dream.

"How can you have people who were working there for 5 to 10 years, and all of a sudden, from one day to another, send them out on the streets?" asked Tony Reyes, UFCW Representative.

UFCW is now conducting an investigation on Lone Star Bakery to try and get compensation for the hundreds of undocumented workers who were laid off after years with the company.

"What about all their benefits?" asked Reyes. "Their 401Ks, and their vacations?"

Immigration reform advocates plan to take their concerns to City leaders and announce a date for their march next week.

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