Thread: Immigration rally to focus on new bills in Tennessee

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/ ... 86,00.html

Immigration rally to focus on new bills
Hundreds expected to take part in effort toward legal reform

By LOLA ALAPO, alapol@knews.com
March 17, 2006

Hundreds of immigrants and immigrant-rights supporters are expected to participate in a Saturday rally downtown to call for reform of the nation's immigration laws.

The march, part of a national movement, is designed to draw attention to pending legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives that could negatively affect undocumented immigrants as well as those who provide them services.

Saturday's event will include skits as well as speeches from immigrants, allowing them to "tell their own stories," said Lisa Barba, East Tennessee coordinator for Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

In December, the House of Representatives approved a bill sponsored by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., that calls for tighter border security through construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border.

The bill also contains a clause that would make unlawful presence an aggravated felony. Also, doctors, churches, social workers or welfare agencies that assist undocumented immigrants could face prosecution or imprisonment.

"Right now, in order to get documentation for papers it's taking up to 10 years," Barba said. "You can't wait 10 years when your children are starving.

"It's only humane to be able to give them assistance so they can keep surviving."

The Senate Judiciary Committee also is debating a proposal by its chairman, Arlen Specter, R-Pa., that would create a "guest worker" program for jobs Americans cannot or will not do. It would provide legality for a specific period of time and then require immigrants to return home. There would be little possibility for them participating in this to become permanent residents or citizens.

The full Senate is expected to take up the bills before the end of the month.

On Thursday, senators in Washington moved toward accepting an approach under which undocumented immigrants could stay in the United States while working toward permanent residence and eventual citizenship.

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

Knoxville City Councilman Chris Woodhull said he supported bills that are "more reform-oriented rather than punitive."

"You want to engage people rather than cause them to go into hiding," he said.

Last month he attended a similar Knoxville rally to get more information about the bills as well as become more aware of the struggles community members are facing.

He encouraged participants not to "write off" people who sponsored disciplinary bills but to help them understand the detrimental impacts on immigrants and their children.

"There are children involved here, and we don't want to take action that would leave children vulnerable," he said. "Something that seems logical might solve one problem but create two."

Lola Alapo may be reached at 865-342-6376. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

"Right now, in order to get documentation for papers it's taking up to 10 years," Barba said. "You can't wait 10 years when your children are starving.

Give me a break! Starving children? They want us to think it is like parts of Africa. They rent children to get themselves across the border. They are child abusers. What they can't wait for is that shinee car with the loud muffler.

"

You can't wait 10 years when your children are starving

Why not eat some of those crops that are rotting in the fields because the mexicans are not there to harvest them? Seems like a huge waste of food to me, just letting the crops rot!

Originally Posted by Brian503a

"You can't wait 10 years when your children are starving.

This is the biggest crock. There are weed covered former corn fields in Mexico because the farmers have come here to do construction etc.!!!