Immigrant advocates rally in Salt Lake
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 02/15/2008 09:51:40 PM MST


Posted: 9:51 PM- They started their journey in the San Diego area, heading north to the U.S.-Canada border to spread their message: "Su voto es su voz" (Your vote is your voice).
On Friday, after 13 days on the road, a handful of immigrant advocates with Border Angels stopped in Salt Lake City during their Marcha Migrante/Migrant March No. 3. They were welcomed by some 25 people during a rally at Centro Civico Mexicano in downtown Friday night.
The goal of the travelling campaign is to register people to vote and get U.S. legal residents to apply for citizenship, said Enrique Morones, Border Angels founder and president. The nonprofit group based in California assists immigrants with water and aid on their border journey through the desert.
The caravan is going through "non-typical cities," such as Boise, Yakima, Wash., and Salt Lake City, where Latinos are sometimes forgotten or overlooked by their states or the rest of the nation, Morones said. The group is covering about 2,000 miles from the San Diego area to Blaine, Wash., on the Canadian border and back.
"Every person in every community is important," he said.
At the rally, Border Angels members encouraged people to get involved in the political system. Morones said he wants voters to support a presidential candidate that will bring an end to the immigration debate.
"We want to make sure he or she gives us the comprehensive immigration reform we've been waiting for," he said.
Estella De Los Rios, a San Diego area resident, joined the caravan in Portland seven days ago. The best part of the trip, she said, has been seeing the strong Latino communities in predominately white areas fighting against local anti-illegal immigration proposals.
"It gives me hope that people are starting to organize . . . and know they do have power as Latinos," said De Los Rios.
The group heads to Las Vegas on Saturday morning and plans to return to California next week.
Marina Yanett Martinez, who moved from Mexico to Utah six years ago, attended the rally with her husband and kids but didn't know much about the group. Afterwards, she said she supports the group's mission and hopes to send them a donation so it can continue saving lives on the border.
"I believe there are many people who would have never made it into this country without them," Martinez said.
The group also organized other migrant marches. Last year, Border Angels travelled along the U.S.-Mexico border interviewing people about why immigration reform is needed. In 2006, volunteers drove across the country, hitting 40 cities in 20 different states, in support of compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform.

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