Thread: Illegal Immigrants Make 1,500-Mile March to Washington

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/immigrat ... 199&page=1

Illegal Immigrants Make 1,500-Mile March to Washington

Seeking Pathway to Citizenship, Students Shrug Off Risk of Detention and Deportation
By DEVIN DWYER
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2010


South Florida college students Felipe Matos, 23, Carlos Roa, 22, and Gaby Pacheo, 25, say their lives as illegal immigrants have become so "unbearable," they decided it was time to take their stories to the nation's capital...on foot.

Matos, Roa and Pacheo say they have been living in the shadows in the U.S. since their parents immigrated with them illegally when they were children, but now they're ready to speak out boldly against the law that could ultimately lead to their detention and deportation.

Their high-profile stunt could make them ripe targets for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We understand the risks but we also acknowledge that the present is unbearable," Matos, a student at Miami Dade Honors College who was born in Brazil, told ABC News while walking on the outskirts of Orlando, Fla.

"We wanted to tell the world that living in fear – living in the shadows, is very cold… fear kills the human spirit and we felt that our spirits were dying," he said.
The trio's so-called "Trail of Dreams" began Jan. 1, and has already covered more than 250 miles.

Matos and his fellow walkers have drawn crowds of several hundred supporters during their march, which averages 18 miles a day. Along the way, they have been meeting with community groups and calling on state and local officials to share their stories and "put a face" on their cause.

Last week, they met with aides to Florida's two U.S. senators – Republican George LeMieux and Democrat Bill Nelson – and Republican Rep. John Mica.

"Rep. Mica's immigration adviser had a tough stance on immigration," wrote Roa of the meeting on the group's blog. "But we were able to get her to understand that deporting millions is simply unrealistic."

The students are pushing for the so-called pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who pass background checks, meet education requirements and pay necessary fees – particularly youths who were brought here by their parents and want to attend college.

They hope to be in the nation's capital by May 1, which has become a day for immigrant rights rallies in recent years.

Immigration Officials Aware of Walkers but Focus on 'Criminal Aliens'

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Brandon Alvarez-Montgomery told ABC News the agency is aware of the students and "respects the rights of individuals to advocate for reform of our nation's immigration laws."

He said ICE will "continue to investigate and review cases that meet our priorities and further our mission to protect the United States from immigration violators that are threats to our national security and public safety."

In October, ICE director John Morton told ABC News the agency pursues stringent enforcement programs against all illegal immigrants, but places the highest priority on "criminal aliens," or those immigrants with criminal convictions.

Morton described individuals like Matos, Roa and Pacheo -- who were brought to the U.S. illegally as minors and have grown up here – as "very tough cases, very hard cases" that involve sensitive and compelling circumstances to be addressed by ICE on a "case by case basis… [until we] come up with something that's a little more across the board thoughtful."

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., recently introduced comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would give illegal immigrants who have a job, are in school or serve in the U.S. military a chance to "earn legalization" by registering with the government, passing criminal background checks, learning English, and paying taxes and fees. They would then receive a six-year "provisional" visa and later, having met the requirements, would be eligible for a green card.
Such bills have been introduced many times before and failed, most recently in 2007. President Obama has promised to readdress the issue.

"We need change and we need it now," Matos said. "We really believed what Obama said, but we're still waiting. It's a year and we still haven't seen it."

In the most recent ABC News poll on immigration, 61 percent of respondents said they would support a program giving illegal immigrants now living in the United States the right to live here legally if they pay a fine and meet other requirements. Thirty-five percent said they oppose such a plan.

These children's parents and relatives should be deported immediately and fines served on all incomes received.
Their children would be better off with their families in their home country.
Their education, received here, should be a great help in their home country.
Who knows,they might even provide a positive contribution in their own land.

In the most recent ABC News poll on immigration, 61 percent of respondents said they would support a program giving illegal immigrants now living in the United States the right to live here legally if they pay a fine and meet other requirements. Thirty-five percent said they oppose such a plan.

BULL!

The majority of people don't want them here. You should read what people in South Florida have to say. They are fed up. One person mentioned Americans in Miami and another person questioned that statement. We are sick of it and sick about reading sob stories about illegals.

if their lives as illegal alien are "unbearable" maybe they should go back to their country of birth and live "bearable" .

No to the DREAM ACT!!!!
They know there is no chance of CIR this year and that includes NO DREAM!!

Keep the pressure they will self deport many are already mentioning it on other boards....

Originally Posted by feduphispanic

if their lives as illegal alien are "unbearable" maybe they should go back to their country of birth and live "bearable" .

No to the DREAM ACT!!!!
They know there is no chance of CIR this year and that includes NO DREAM!!

Keep the pressure they will self deport many are already mentioning it on other boards....

Unfortunately, they have already been given de facto amnesty by this administration by virtually severing all substantial enforcement except in the most serious criminal cases.

The belief is that as long as they have offspring on US soil, then the US will not seperate them from their offspring.

Come here illegally, have an anchor baby, and your are home free.

You have criminals right in front of you, and they get to just walk on by. How easy could your job be, just pick them up. Of course the sob stories would begin, and the illegal aliens know that they can have flagrant disrespect for the American people and for our immigration laws, and the media and special interests will rescue them.

Psalm 91

Notice how they have to reach back and use one of their flawed push polls to try to show support for amnesty, which is not there. They'll no doubt be using more of these.

They should have noted that a recent Rasmussen poll shows that 70% of voters support border enforcement over legalization/amnesty.

"We need change and we need it now," Matos said. "We really believed what Obama said, but we're still waiting. It's a year and we still haven't seen it."

WOW! A whole year?!??! Yo buddy, we've been waiting for the promised ENFORCEMENT for over 20 years!!! There will NEVER be another amnesty. The sooner you reconcile yourselves to that the better you'll be.

Immigration Officials Aware of Walkers but Focus on 'Criminal Aliens'

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Brandon Alvarez-Montgomery told ABC News the agency is aware of the students and "respects the rights of individuals to advocate for reform of our nation's immigration laws."

He said ICE will "continue to investigate and review cases that meet our priorities and further our mission to protect the United States from immigration violators that are threats to our national security and public safety."

Having 20 million illegal invaders in this country allows ICE to justify and or excuse not going after known illegal invaders who are acting in defiance of our laws!

Face it, ICE has been effectively neutered : "respects the rights of individuals to advocate for reform of our nation's immigration laws."

Even when they're illegal invaders and in violation of the very laws they're protesting against? You still do nothing? Embarrassing....every illegal invader is a "potential threat to our national security and public safety!" How many American citizens have to lose their lives at the hands of these invaders before you figure that out!