March to target immigration reform

Web Posted: 10/10/2007 11:15 PM CDT

Jeorge Zarazua
Express-News

Hispanic activists in San Antonio are planning a march Friday to advocate for immigration reform, so children like Saúl Arellano don't have to be separated from their mothers, organizers said.
The local march is being held on D�*a de la Raza, the Day of the Race, or indigenous people's day, which is celebrated each year in October.

The march will be one of a number being coordinated across the country by supporters of Arellano's mother, Elvira, who made headlines last year after taking sanctuary in a Chicago church to avoid deportation. Authorities eventually caught up with Arellano in August during a rally in Los Angeles, deporting her to Mexico.

Despite her failed attempt, Arellano's self-imposed imprisonment helped galvanize the immigration reform movement, said Gabriel Velasquez, director of Inner City Advocates.

"I think the U.S. thought by deporting Elvira that it would be the end of the situation," Velasquez said. "It's not."

Since Arellano returned to her home state of Michoacán in Mexico, members of the Chicago immigration rights group, Centro Sin Fronteras, have continued to rally for immigration reform on her behalf. Last month, more than 150 supporters joined her son in Washington to march through the halls of the Capitol, chanting "Born in the U.S.A. Don't take our moms and dads away."

Velasquez said Friday's march will continue to bring attention to the need for a new immigration policy that doesn't break up immigrant families.

"It's an action day to bring back from the back burner efforts to revive the talk for comprehensive immigration reform," said Jaime P. Martinez, chairman and founder of San Antonio's César E. Chávez March for Justice.

Immigration right activists estimate that more than 10 percent of families in this country have at least one parent with no U.S. citizenship and a child born here.

Other cities with Dia de la Raza marches include Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington and Waukegan, Ill., where city officials want local police to be able to enforce immigration laws.

Locally, aside from Inner City Advocates, at least 10 other organizations have joined to form the coalition that's sponsoring the march here, which will begin at 6 p.m. at Milam Park under the banner "Todos Somos Elvira Arellano," or "We're all Elvira Arrellano."

The march will follow the same route as the May Day march, snaking its way south on Santa Rosa Street to West Nueva Street, passing in front of the San Antonio Police Department headquarters, and finishing at HemisFair Park.Martinez said caravans of supporters are expected to converge in San Antonio from the Rio Grande Valley, Austin and Dallas.

Velasquez said rallies at both parks would be held in conjunction with the march, with coalition members addressing the crowds.



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