Thread: Vigil held to protect illegal immigrants

By Sabrina ZimringDURHAM (WTVD) -- A Durham church is hoping prayer will protect illegal immigrants living in Triangle communities.
At a prayer vigil Wednesday night, immigrant families and church members talked about the need for immigration reform. They want a new federal law that would allow immigrants to stay in the country.
"Our immigrant community is really living in a state of fear and chaos," Beth Brockman with the First Presbyterian Church said. "I'm here to pray for the protection of our immigrant brothers and sisters, I'm also here to pray for immigration reform."
Church and community members are calling on Congress and President Barack Obama to pass humane immigration reform giving everyone equal opportunity to live and learn in this country.
Story continues belowAdvertisement"I see the effects as a teacher in the Durham Public schools, I see children whose parents who have been deported and all the aftermath of that," said Martha Ramirez with Inglesia Presbiteriana Emanuel.
"Children not showing up for school because they're parents are scared they might be separated if there happens to be a raid in their workplace," Brockman added.
The prayer vigil is happening nationwide as a part of a movement on immigration reform in over 100 cities.
"I think we should allow for larger numbers of people to legally immigrate and also to allow to paths for legal citizenship for those who are already here," Ramirez said.
They hope these flames cast light on a crisis and their prayers bring peace to all of these people.
They also want to see changes to policy that would allow students already in the school system to go on to college to be able to enroll without proving legal citizenship.

(Copyright ©2009 WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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6 comments

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?secti ... id=6666362

Of course lets pray for the protection and safety of a bunch of law breaking scofflaws, but not for the American citizens that these invading scum pray upon every day.

Any church/temple the defends illegals rights over the rights of American citizens is not a church that believes in the word of God.

This Church needs to move to mexico and pray for them!

O yeah, you brake the law and i thought you go to jail. Guess not when i comes to Illegals. My grandfather came here from Italy Legally. If he can do it so can everyone else. American stands for freedom, not criminals run the place.

Amen.

Originally Posted by AmericanMom

O yeah, you brake the law and i thought you go to jail. Guess not when i comes to Illegals. My grandfather came here from Italy Legally. If he can do it so can everyone else. American stands for freedom, not criminals run the place.

The ones who come here illegally are making it much tougher for those who would like to come legally and actually be Americans and help this nation grow in a good way. I grew up with several kids whose parents were immigrants and I respected them very much and never had a problem with them...but these people?? Never, ever will I respect them, even if they are given amnesty. I will never consider someone who sneaked in and got rewarded for breaking our laws a real American. Never. They're illegal aliens now, and they will be forever in my book.

You know an Illegal is invading a sovereign country. So that means i can shoot them with my M 1 next time i see then crossing over into this wonderful Country. I am not fighting for them to be coming over committing crimes i'm fighting for the American People and for their children to be and stay free!!!!!!!!!

VA National Guard ROCKS!!!!!!!!!