Immigrants Rally To Stop Immigrant Status Legislation

WUSA9.com
February 7, 2011
FALLS CHURCH, Va.

A few leaders in the immigrant communities of Northern Virginia are alarmed.

They are worried about several pieces of legislation working through the General Assembly that they believe might discriminate against illegal immigrants.

"As a person of color, you don't feel welcome, you don't feel safe," says Lucero Beebe-Giudice with Tenants Workers United.

One bill would replicate Arizona's 287(G) law, which will require police to check the immigration status of people they pull over.

Beebe-Guidice says that would create distrust by undermining the hard work that's been achieved building bridges between this community and police.

"That law hasn't made anyone safe. People aren't reporting crimes in Arizona because they're afraid," says Jaime Contreras, area director of the Service Employees International Union.

"It's unacceptable. These are hardworking people. They come here for the American Dream," says Contreras.

Contreras is most worried about bills that would have schools keeping track of illegal immigrant children and those that would put up roadblocks to higher education.

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