Thread: Thousands Call for Immigration Reform in DC

Mar 21, 7:01 PM EDT

Thousands call for immigration reform in DC

By SARAH KARUSH
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Frustrated with the lack of action to overhaul the country's immigration system, thousands of demonstrators rallied on the National Mall and marched through the streets of the capital Sunday, waving American flags and holding homemade signs in English and Spanish.

Supporters traveled from around the country in hopes the rally would re-energize Congress to take up the volatile issue. Some lawmakers oppose any attempt to help an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants become U.S. citizens while others insist on stronger border controls first.

President Barack Obama, who promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year, sought to reassure those at the rally with a video message presented on giant screens at the National Mall. The president said he was committed to working with Congress this year on a comprehensive bill to fix a "broken immigration system."

Obama said problems include families being torn apart, employers gaming the system and police officers struggling to keep communities safe.

The president, whose comments were released as he worked to get last-minute votes on a health care overhaul, said he would do everything in his power to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform.

Some demonstrators were disappointed there hasn't been more action a year into Obama's term.

"I understand it may not all be his (Obama's) fault," said Manuel Bettran, a 21-year-old college student from Chicago. "I am frustrated. I really wish not just him, but everybody, would take it more seriously. "

Bettran arrived in Washington on Sunday morning after a 13-hour bus ride. Like many at the rally, he had a personal connection to the issue. His parents were once illegal immigrants, but were able to take advantage of an amnesty in the 1980s.

"Fortunately, they were able to become citizens during the last amnesty but I know many people that weren't that lucky," said the American-born Bettran, adding that his brother was never able to gain legal status and had to leave the U.S.

Lawmakers failed to agree in 2006 and 2007 when they last tried to overhaul the immigration system, and the political climate is even tougher now.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., released an outline of a bill last week that calls for illegal immigrants who want to get on the path to legal status to admit they broke the law by entering the U.S., pay fines and back taxes, and perform community service. They also would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before working toward legal residency, required before becoming a citizen.

Ben Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a speaker at the rally, said the activists no doubt got the attention of lawmakers by converging on the mall "on the one Sunday Congress was in session."

"I think you'll see a response in the following weeks," he said.

Authorities in D.C. don't provide crowd estimates, but the mall was full of people for three blocks.

People held signs with slogans such as, "You need us as much as we need you," and "No Human Being is Illegal." Many waved American flags, and a few also carried the banners of their countries of origin.

One group from Queens, N.Y., displayed a giant papier-mache family - a mother and two crying children. The creation, meant to symbolize the way immigration problems have split up families, was the work of teenagers in an after-school program, said Natalia Aristizabal, arts and media educator for the group, Make the Road New York.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... TE=DEFAULT

My family was separated at the border but I forgot we were coming here legally.

Originally Posted by swatchick

My family was separated at the border but I forgot we were coming here legally.

Haha....I can say the same thing. We too got separated at Miami International Airport Immigration but joined within a few minutes because we came here legally.

Families are split up all over the world, most often not by choice but by war or escaping oppression. These people demanding amnesty did not escape war, but came here knowingly breaking our laws. Just wonder what percentage of these screamers has even applied for a refugee visa? They can't as there is no need for refuge. They are here for their greed and the much-touted Better Life as they suck us dry.

What gets me is the hipocracy of it all. Many of them come here alone and work here until they have the money to bring the kids. There was a documentary about illegals and one mother was working and sent money to her family to pay a smuggler to bring her kids here. Then there are cases where the man of the house comes here and works and sends money to the wife and kids back home.

Waving American flags huhh? This is straight disrespect. Their alegience is to their country. In my experience with Mexican illegals I have notcied that many of them have large Mexican flags on their homes and vehicles. They were taught in the little schooling they recieved that Amercia took land from them. I have a co-worker that was born in Mexico just because his father wanted one of his three kids to be Mexican instead of being American. Pretty soon with birth rate of the illegals, CA will be a part of Mexico.

Just think for a moment if the tables were turned and we tried to pull this off in Mexico.

Originally Posted by vortex

Families are split up all over the world, most often not by choice but by war or escaping oppression. These people demanding amnesty did not escape war, but came here knowingly breaking our laws. Just wonder what percentage of these screamers has even applied for a refugee visa? They can't as there is no need for refuge. They are here for their greed and the much-touted Better Life as they suck us dry.

And the Bologna family was separated by murder. Wish our legislators would remember that.