Hundreds rally in Salinas for immigration reform
By CLAUDIA MELÉNDEZ SALINAS
Herald Staff Writer
Updated: 07/02/2009 01:27:08 AM PDT

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William Medrano, 19, yells into a megaphone during an... (DAVID ROYAL/Special to The Herald)

Julieta Reyes has a brother who fought in Vietnam. Ricarda Rodriguez became a U.S. citizen after almost a decade working in the fields.

Hector Rojas was brought to this country when he was 8 years old. Leticia Garcia Romo is a third-generation American, the first one in her family to go to college.

Their stories, similar to those of millions of illegal immigrants in this country, were heard by hundreds of people gathered Wednesday at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Salinas to garner support for reforming U.S. immigration laws.

"This reform that you are asking for reminds me of how much I suffered," said Rodriguez, who works as an educator at Escuela Libertad in Salinas.

The town hall meeting, conducted in Spanish with English translation, is similar to actions that have been taking place across the country. Some believe they are having an effect because President Barack Obama recently renewed his promise to push for comprehensive immigration reform this year.

At a meeting last week, Congressional Republicans and Democrats talked about their commitment to reform the country's immigration laws.

"Even though there are many important issues in the country, (the legislators) decided that this immigration reform is one of the most important topics," United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez said Wednesday.

But reforming immigration laws this year is anything but assured. Congress is still tackling issues such as clean energy and health care,
and observers agree taking on immigration reform could be too much.

Acknowledging the long road ahead, Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, told the audience he was only one of more than 500 federal legislators who will vote on immigration reform.

"The fight in Washington is going to be great," he said.

Groups that oppose immigration reform have also renewed their efforts, trying to block any type of reform, in particular what they call "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.

For instance, the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee launched a campaign Wednesday to stop any immigration reform efforts. In a news release, the committee claims legalization of current illegal immigrants would open the door for more illegal immigration, and it wants to "eradicate all illegal immigrants" within a decade.

On Wednesday, among the hundreds of supporters, a lone opponent to immigration reform sat in the middle of the room holding a sign that read, "Amnesty is Treason. Keep immigration safe, legal and rare."

Asked why he compared amnesty with treason, Bill Carrothers did not give a direct answer. He said he thought Mexicans were the "most lovable people on the face of the Earth," but he would not support efforts to legalize those here illegally.

"With the wage differential between Guanajuato and here, we can have all the guest workers we want," he said. "There's no reason to provide education or health care."

From the podium, Farr took issue with Carrothers' sign and said those words did not represent the view of the country.

"Look at the history of the United States. Look at the faces of the gringos. Their parents also came from somewhere else and the majority came without papers because back then, no papers were needed. Any person who got here could become a citizen," Farr said.

Before the rally ended, organizers urged participants to call the White House and ask the president to push for immigration reform.

"This is not just about coming and listening to stories," said Sabino Lopez, lead organizer for the Center for Community Advocacy. "We have to do our part."

Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or cmelendez@montereyherald.com.

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