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Immigration concerns run high at forum
April 29,2006
Victoria Hirschberg
Monitor Staff Writer


McALLEN — As the U.S. Senate discusses illegal immigration, several local organizations want reform that does not compromise border security, but allows immigrants to apply for residency.

About 30 representatives from the community, media and advocacy groups gathered Friday afternoon to discuss immigration reform and the impact of the national boycott planned for Monday — in which thousands of Hispanics are expected to not work or buy American products. Immigrant activists are calling it "A Day without Latinos," aimed at showing the importance of Hispanic workers and their buying power in the United States.

"The U.S. community, the Mexican community, the immigrant community has been fighting many years for fair immigration," said LUPE President Juanita Valdez-Cox at Friday’s forum. "This event is … going to support the immigrant community, (but) it’s for everyone in the United States because today there are direct benefits of immigrants in the United States."

In the Rio Grande Valley, several groups have planned marches to show support for this effort. Local advocacy group La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) scheduled a march Monday that begins at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows at 12th Street and Hackberry in McAllen.

Marchers will then head south to Archer Park for a rally at 6 p.m.

Several student groups also plan to host a rally at 9 a.m. that begins at Archer Park,near Business 83 in downtown McAllen.

La Frontera — which is owned by Freedom Communications, The Monitor’s parent company — sponsored the forum because of all the heated confusion around the issue, said La Frontera Editor Adan Guerrero.

Guerrero said he was surprised by the forum’s low turnout, which he hopes doesn’t translate into an uneventful Monday in the Valley.

"I believe that the people have interest, they want to know, but they are scared," he said, adding many fear immigration officials and the police. "These people see border patrol in the corner of their city."

In the past month, members of St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan has sent about 500 letters each to U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas calling for fair immigration reform. Cornyn did not attend Friday’s forum, but sent a letter outlining his plan that would increase security and enforcement in the United States and employer accountability.

Rev. John Lasseigne of the San Juan church, and a member of Valley Interfaith, said immigration reform must include a path to citizenship and a guest worker program that allows families to stay together.

A special noon Mass for immigrants is planned for Monday, with Bishop Raymundo Peña celebrating, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville.

"We (don’t) want any laws that make criminals out of immigrants," Lasseigne said.

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Victoria Hirschberg covers Hidalgo County government and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4466.