Rally for in Carmel for immigration reform

Robert Marchant
February 14, 2010

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Activists pushing to reform federal immigration laws will stage a vigil at the Carmel office of Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, on Monday, part of a series of events around the state meant to focus attention on the issue.

"We feel like it's really time for our politicians to start talking and doing something on immigration reform," said Betsy Palmieri, executive director of the Hudson Valley Community Coalition. "Our families and our friends are really suffering."

The coalition is lobbying for laws that would stake out a "pathway" to citizenship for illegal immigrants, involving fines and other legal steps they can take to become citizens. Family unification should be a key component. The group is also calling for changes in the detention system used to house illegal aliens pending an outcome on their case, and they want local law enforcement pulled off immigration enforcement.

Norma Pereira-Mora, associated with a group calling itself the Hudson Valley Patriots for Immigration Reform, said Hispanic immigrants felt threatened. "There's a lot of fear. People are being stopped for no other reason than they're Hispanic. But being a Latino is not a crime," she said, "We're helping to build this country."

Activists are fanning out across New York on Monday, and a group will be in front of Hall's Carmel office at 40 Gleneida Ave. at 4 p.m.

On the other side, some elected leaders are calling for more enforcement, rather than legalization, as a priority. "While a pathway to citizenship should be an option, we need to secure the border first," said State Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson. "Stop the hemorrhaging."

Hall's office sent a statement on his position:

"America's immigration policy is a complex issue, but it's clear that reform is needed, that those here illegally who are caught breaking the law be deported, and that businesses hiring undocumented workers should be punished. I do not support amnesty. Those who broke the law to get here don't deserve to cut in line in front of those who have been patiently working with the system to immigrate to our country legally." Hall reiterated his support for border enforcement, noting his votes for a border fence with Mexico, more border agents and measures to verify worker documents.

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