Local DREAM Act Supporters Protest at Congressman's Office

Posted: Sep 06, 2013 4:05 PM PDT
Updated: Sep 06, 2013 4:05 PM PDT



CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) - A local group gathered at Congressman Blake Farenthold's office Friday, asking that he meet with them as promised to discuss immigration reform.

The group, made up of local immigrant advocates, labor and faith-based organizations, favors legislation that would allow those in this country illegally to have a path they could follow to become U.S. Citizens. They say that Farenthold promised to meet with them but so far, that has not happened.

So on Friday, they showed up with boxes of cantaloupes, crowding the reception area of Farenthold's office and demanding to know why the congressman has not met with them.

"We are here today because Congressman Farenthold promised us twice he would meet with us on why we need immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for Corpus Christi," Union Leader David De Los Santos said. "He broke his promise, and now he's taken off back to DC."

The group wants to speak with Farenthold in hopes of having him change his stand against the immigration reform DREAM Act, which would give amnesty to those raised in this country from a young age whose parents are here illegally.

In a response after last month's protest, Farenthold said, "I don't think it needs to be taken up before we deal with securing the borders, or we're going to be back in the same situation 10, 15 years down the road, with a whole bunch of folks who are unlawfully present in the country."

The congressman's district director assured DREAM Act supporters that they will get their meeting.

"We have a scheduling meeting on Monday with our DC scheduler who has the schedule in DC," District Director Bob Haueter said. "See, we don't know what the schedule is in DC yet. They're just going back into session, and as you know, there's a lot of issues on the calendar. So until we get the schedule from the leader's office, what days they'll be there and stuff, I don't know what days he'll be in Corpus Christi."

"I'm hoping that he keeps his promise. He's lied to us a couple of times already, and for him to just ignore the fact that we have a wonderful community of immigrants here in Nueces County that contribute to our economy," said Dr. Nick Adame of LULAC Council 1.

On Sunday, Catholic churches across the country will ask their congregations to call on Congress to support a path to citizenship. There will also be rallies in some 60 cities across the United States in support of comprehensive immigration reform, calling it a "national day for dignity and respect."

http://www.kiiitv.com/story/23364448/local-dream-act-supporters-protest-at-congressmans-office