Protest set at prison for immigrants

Web Posted: 06/06/2007 01:25 AM CDT

Express-News and wire reports

Around 300 protesters from across the state are expected to descend on a prison for detained immigrant families northeast of Austin on Saturday, an organizer said.


Antonio DÃ*az, a San Antonio activist who has been spearheading the effort, said about 50 people from the Alamo City will join dozens of others from as close as Taylor, where the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Center is located, and as far as Del Rio and El Paso.

The vigil and protest, which comes on the heels of eight similar but smaller efforts, will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

DÃ*az said he hopes a big turnout will convince politicians to look into closing the place.

A final planning meeting, open to the public, will be held at 6 p.m. today at San Pedro Park.

Opened a year ago as the nation's largest prison for immigrant families, the 512-bed center has been a constant target for advocates of immigrants. A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union is scheduled to go to trial in August.

Another protest, timed for International Refugee Day, is planned at Hutto for June 23.

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