Thread: Border activists end cross-country tour

http://www.signonsandiego.com

Border activists end cross-country tour

Group targeted immigration bill
By Leslie Berestein
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
March 1, 2006

TIJUANA – A group of San Diego border activists who spent February on the road as part of a cross-country caravan to Washington, D.C., returned yesterday, saying their trek to meet with legislators and with like-minded pro-immigration and human rights activists had been a positive experience.

They marked their homecoming with a news conference at the border fence in Playas de Tijuana, across the fence from Border Field State Park.

“What I took from this is that all of us, Latinos and Mexicans, are united in this cause,” said Micaela Saucedo, 60, a retired nurse from Chula Vista.

The caravan was organized by Enrique Morones of Border Angels, a local group that sets up water stations in the desert for border crossers. Participants traveled from San Diego to Sacramento, then across the country to the nation's capital before turning back.

Fifteen cars left from San Diego on Feb. 2, though most weren't traveling the whole way. Other participants joined the caravan along the way. Others participated in various rallies, including in Denver and in Washington, D.C.

The caravaners' goal was to persuade lawmakers to abandon a controversial enforcement-only immigration reform bill, and to meet and hold rallies with activists nationwide.

They drove for several hours a day and often slept less than five hours a night, but the five San Diego participants, most of them retired, who made the entire trip said it was overwhelmingly positive.

The group met with some legislators with whom they had set up appointments and dropped in on the Washington offices of several others, participant Vicente Rodriguez said.

“We spent three and a half days knocking on doors,” said Rodriguez, 67, of San Diego.

Morones said the group planted 4,000 crosses along the way in memory of people who have died crossing the border illegally.

He said the group visited 40 cities in 27 days, frequently staying in private homes.

“It was great to see so much hope from the human race, not just Latinos,” Morones said.

The group launched the caravan largely in response to the passage in December of House Resolution 4437. The bill has been criticized as being overly punitive by pro-immigrant activists, as well as by charities and church groups that work with immigrants.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leslie Berestein: (619) 542-4579; leslie.berestein@uniontrib.com

“What I took from this is that all of us, Latinos and Mexicans, are united in this cause,” said Micaela Saucedo, 60, a retired nurse from Chula Vista.

The caravan was organized by Enrique Morones of Border Angels, a local group that sets up water stations in the desert for border crossers. Participants traveled from San Diego to Sacramento, then across the country to the nation's capital before turning back.

Maybe the Ltinos and Mexicans are, but the Americans sure aren't!

Border Angels? You mean people who encourage others to risk their lives trekking acoss the desert are considered angels these days? Dang! What are the DEVILS doing? Giving them salt water?