Thread: Immigration Rally In Dubuque

http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=5352184&nav=2Ifu

August 31, 2006--Dubuque
Immigration Rally In Dubuque



Immigration reform takes center stage at a Dubuque rally. Concerned residents and community leaders came together to discuss ways to create better immigration policy with Hispanic nations. However, it wasn't just Hispanic immigrants who came to the park. It was immigrants from all over the world trying to show that America is truly a country of immigrants. Rally-goers say now is the time for the U-S government to realize how important immigrants are to the American workforce. "This is something that is really impacting our community. Even though I'm legal, I think this is what America is, this is what America should do," says immigrant Rieneo Mojica.

Local immigration supporters say people are only coming to this country illegally because they're needed. They add that even if they weren't needed, building a fence to keep them out is not the answer. "We don't think that fences will stop the people from coming. There's a need in our country for workers and the workers are coming over to fill those needs," says United Dubuque Immigration Alliance member Marcia Sola.

To hammer home the theme of "Bridges Make Better Neighbors," the rally-goers boarded buses. Their plan was to stretch hand in hand across the Julian Dubuque bridge. On the bridge, enthusiasm was evident, but there weren't quite enough people to complete the chain from shore to shore. "I wish for more people, but it's a day in the middle of the week and everybody work," comments a Hispanic immigrant who lives in Dubuque.

Even though there weren't quite enough people to stretch hand and hand across the Julian Dubuque bridge, organizers of the rally say it was still a success

On Friday, Iowa Representative Steve King will hold a field hearing on immigration in Dubuque. Folks at Thursday's rally criticized Kings plan for erecting an electrified fence along the United States' border with Mexico.

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs. ... 6/1001/NIE

Pro-immigration rally rails against border measures
The Dubuque marchers favor a comprehensive reform

By TOM WITOSKY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


September 1, 2006


Dubuque, Ia. — Pro-immigration forces — religious, legal and political — fired new salvos Thursday against the push by U.S. House Republicans to impose new border security measures without addressing major reform of U.S. immigration laws.

"The fact of the matter is that the immigration system that we have doesn't work," Miryam Antunez de Mayolo, a Cedar Falls-based immigration lawyer, told a crowd of about 200 to 250 pro-immigration supporters. "It serves no one. When it takes seven years for a family member in Mexico to legally be allowed to join their family members who are U.S. citizens, we clearly have a system that no longer works."

Antunez de Mayolo was one of a dozen speakers from religious, political and legal backgrounds who urged federal lawmakers to approve a comprehensive reform of the nation's immigration laws.

The rally was held on the eve of a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing to be held here and expected to be highly critical of a U.S. Senate-passed bill that couples increased border security with ways for legal work and citizenship for most of the nation's 11 million undocumented workers and a new guest-worker program for prospective migrants.

Despite having the support of the Bush administration, the Senate bill faces a steep uphill battle in the Republican-controlled U.S. House that has approved legislation only to bolster border security, make illegal immigrants felons and finance the construction of miles of fencing on the southern border.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns repeated that the Bush administration wants a comprehensive reform measure that includes both border security and ways to cope better with the immigration issue.

He also said that changes centering solely on border security could have an impact on Iowa farmers and livestock producers, who employ temporary workers, many of them immigrants.

"Without a comprehensive solution, you just don't get to a solution of the issue," Johanns said. "You still have a situation here in Iowa and elsewhere where part of your farm labor is that temporary worker. You just can't take a complex issue and solve one piece of it and then proclaim the problem is solved."

Marcia Sola, one of the Dubuque rally organizers, said that the pro-immigration groups held the afternoon rally, which included a march by demonstrators across the Mississippi River bridge on U.S. Highway 20, because of today's hearing and its political overtones.

"We certainly know it has to do with the 1st Congressional District race and if we look at all of the other field hearings across the country, it certainly has to do with politics and political races," Sola said. "For us, we don't really care why they are having it here because it gives us an opportunity to educate the public as well as showcase Dubuque."

National Republican and Democratic congressional leaders have identified the race between Republican businessman Mike Whalen of Bettendorf and Democrat lawyer Bruce Braley of Waterloo as one of the key races to determine control of the U.S. House. The two are vying to replace Republican Rep. Jim Nussle, who is running for Iowa governor.

Today's hearing - sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee - is expected to include presentations by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Ia., who voted against the Senate bill, and 5th District Rep. Steve King, a strong proponent of the House border security bill.

But several religious leaders, including Gregory Palmer, bishop of the United Methodist Church of Iowa, insisted that any immigration reform emphasize tolerance and acceptance of immigrants, both legal and illegal.

"We plead for real leadership in the House and the Senate and beseech them to cease and desist now from the tactics of fearmongering, labeling and pandering to all of our worst fears in this nation," Palmer said.