Congressmen Hear From Families Torn Apart by Immigration Law
New America Media, News Report, Text: Raj Jayadev // Video: Adrian Avila and Tiburon, Posted: Apr 25, 2009
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- In St. Victor’s, a humble yet crowded eastside San Jose church, Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Representative Michael Honda (D-Calif.) sat transfixed, and at times teary-eyed, last week as they bore witness.
They, along with religious leaders from the different faiths that make up Silicon Valley’s diverse communities, were there to hear personal testimonies from immigrant families who have had loved ones deported, opportunities denied, and dreams deferred due to current immigration law.
The congressmen spearheaded the event called “Family Unity” as part of a national effort to set the stage for President Obama’s comprehensive immigration reform agenda.
Rep. Michael Honda and Rep. Gutierrez to Host National Immigration Tour Stop in San Jose from debugtv on Vimeo.
While the San Jose stop was the the last but one of the 20 cities Gutierrez had taken this traveling call-to-action to, it was the first that focused on the voices and experiences of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community.
The effort of inclusion was intended help foster a more broad-based movement for immigration reform. And as Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, then told the audience of roughly 400 attendees, “At a national level, the API community is often times left out of the debate, our voices silenced, and then fall between the cracks, but not this time.”
Noting that May was Asian Pacific Heritage Month, he went on to say, “I hope to amplify API voices and bring to Washington their stories of family hardship, stifled futures of bright students, and decades of family separation.”
Among the testimonies delivered at Family Unity was one by Agnes, an elderly Filipina who shared a harrowing story of her family who has been unable to properly respond to a medical concern due to immigration restrictions. She shared how her brother, Digno, was recently diagnosed with cancer, but his wife, who is undocumented, cannot find work to pay for medical bills and other basic needs due to her status. “She can’t drive either, and I do my best by taking her to the grocery store and looking after the kids.”
While the health concerns of Digno weigh heavily on the family, Agnes says there is also still the ever-looming fear, “that one day, Digno’s dear children will come home from school and their mom will have been deported.” She implored Congressman Honda and Gutierrez to act quickly. “This system is broken. Our family cannot afford to be separated. Please help us.”
Gutierrez, after hearing testimonies like Agnes’s for most of the evening, responded with a rousing speech in both English and Spanish that brought standing ovations for both. He told the crowd that President Obama, who he has met with as part of the Hispanic Caucus to discuss timelines around immigration reform, already made his commitment to pathways to legalization during his run for office. “He told us, first year, first term; now we need to hold him to his word.”
Gutierrez was in San Jose in 2007, drumming up public support when Comprehensive Immigration Reform was on the House and Senate floor. Despite an outpouring of support, the legislation failed to gain the required votes.
When asked how this moment could lend itself to a different outcome, Gutierrez says, “For one thing, we’re matured and we’ve increased the level of support that we have nationally.”
And while Gutierrez acknowledges the economic climate may color the discussion around immigration reform, he remains optimistic. Comparing the need for comprehensive immigration reform to struggles such as the civil rights movement and the suffrage movement, he said, “Look, they can always say it’s not a good time, but we have to deal with this moral crisis.”
Gutierrez says the next step is mass rallies across the country planned for May 9th. They are aimed at catching the President’s attention, in fact, will be back-dropped with banners quoting Obama’s immigration promise.
The day was chosen since May 10th is celebrated as Mother’s Day for many people from Latin America. Gutierrez left the congregation with a mandate to organize for May 9th and beyond.
“We can’t have a Democratic majority and a Democratic president that says its committed to the rights of immigrants, yet still have a federal government that rips children out of mother’s arms.”
Page
1 of 1
|
User Comments
Carlos Mango on May 01, 2009 at 23:29:56 said:
My brothers and sisters emigrated to the US illegally after waiting for 6 years to emigrate legally. It took us another 8 years to become legal. Out of six brothers and sisters, we have 1 engineer, 1 nurse, 1 lawyer, 1 HS principal, 1 teacher with a masters degree, the other has its own business. I know we pay over $180,000 in taxes every year, and that amount is about to increase. We paid for our own college education, though it would have been better for the govt to subsidize us. We would have been paying that quantify sooner. So all the racist remarks about us not contributing are false.
Chuckie on Apr 29, 2009 at 00:54:42 said:
MaryJ - You compare illegal immigrants to murderers, is it any wonder that racist pigs get compared to mass murderers and genocidal psychopaths? I was an illegal immigrant who came to the US as a child, graduated valedictorian in my High School class and with honors from college. I've averaged paying $40K taxes every year and I would gladly pay it for those "anchor babies." You are definitely a piece of trash along with your friend Dana Garcia.
Dana Garcia on Apr 27, 2009 at 14:33:01 said:
The United States has the most generous system of LEGAL immigration on the planet. But it's never enough for the foreign gimme brigade, who present themselves as victims needing a handout, despite the fact that their situation was self-created.
Take the whole brood back to Mexico (or wherever) and insist on better social services -- which wealthy Mexico can easily afford.
Plus, in Mexico there are no Minutemen insisting on US sovereignty. Live it up! Scram!
Lin McDevitt-Pugh on Apr 27, 2009 at 05:45:05 said:
As the legal spouse of a US citizen who is forced to live in exile because the US government does not recognise our ralationship - same sex, two nationalities - it is heartbreaking to read the responses to this posting, apart from Melanie Nathan's posting which also addresses LGBT issues. Where is the compassion, where is the idea that together we make change happen? The United States is a nation of newcomers and at present has an immigration policy that just doesn't work. Obama has said he wants to fix that. For GLBT people it is important that we focus on the rights of American GLBT citizens to fall in love with a foreigner and to choose to live in the USA with that partner. The present immigration law is unnecessarily cruel in that it states that heterosexual US citizens may fall in love with a foreigner and that both the US citizen and the partner can live in the USA. We want those same rights for GLBT US citizens.
Let's fix the broken system. Lets go for comprehensive Immigration Reform. Our relationships are built on love. Let that be what our society is built on as well.
Mira on Apr 26, 2009 at 18:55:49 said:
A good parent always makes provisions for their child. Family separations are a part of the American way, get over it, or get use to it. Most children in American are either living with a single parent or a blended family. So even if you stay, there is a strong possibility that you won't make it as a family here. Either way, we don't care, we are tired of it. Either take your child with you, or leave them with someone. You knew that coming in. Get out.
As an African American, I strongly resent Mexicans referring to their "plight" as being akin to the civil rights movement. First of all, we had no where to go. Secondly, Mexicans were like the jacqual, they waited for African Americans to sacifice their lives for justice when it was courageous and unpopular, reap the benefits, and when it was safe, they came in. Where is your machismo? You don't belong here, I don't care how many lawns you have cut over how many years, you knew the rules when you came!!!
Most whites don't know this, but Mexicans have extreme prejudice against African Americans. One of their national heroes is Mime Pignon (sp?), a black boy with large pink lips that is always getting in trouble. They issued a national stamp with his image a few years ago. America got past this 50 yrs ago!!! I work in a prison. While Mexicans paint themsleves as victims, the poor and down trodden, they are actively engaged in an eithnic cleansing movement against blacks. The nerve, and they don't even belong here, yet they see it as their duty to erradicate a race of people in a county where they don't belong!
Earth to Barak!!!! Do we need more racist...especially those that call you racist first, so that you are intimidated and don't see their racism!
Since Guiteriez and Honda were so teary eyed, why don't they use that energy and direct to the countries of origin? I suspect that since this was Guiteriez's last stop (20th), he probably didn't have the backing that he thought he would get so he included Asian/PI as a last minute effort to get a political base. Take heek Asian/PI's, don't become a political pawn like the Mexicans!!!
Sheryl on Apr 26, 2009 at 07:57:59 said:
For Susan, Legal1, and the other racists that have left comments on this page... WE DID ASK THEM TO COME HERE, REMEMBER? One example of many, WWII, they fought alongside our soldiers for our country. They filled in for jobs of the American men that had to fight in WWII. Illegal immigrants and Mexican Americans have played a significant role by being the backbone of the labor force in this country! They have helped this country become wealthy, whether you think so or not, these are facts, not merely opinions. It is saddening, this cycle... the U.S. is up economically, then we look to Mexico for cheap labor, WE ASK THEM TO COME HERE, when the U.S. is down economically, then Americans want them to go back to Mexico, regardless of whether they are a U.S. citizen or an illegal. I believe some of you that leave comments are uneducated on the subject! I recommend you read Decade of Betrayal - Mexican Repatriation in the 1930s. Yes, something needs to be done about illegal immigration, but some of them have been here for decades because we asked them to come here!!!!!
Janna on Apr 26, 2009 at 07:17:26 said:
Susan R, your comments show exactly the narrow thinking that people have towards this problem. First and foremost, "anchor" babies are useless in helping an illegal immigrant in gaining citizenship. They wouldn't be able to sponsor their family until they were 21. That is an awful long time to wait. Second, illegal immigrants who were brought here as children had no choice. Sure, I've heard the argument that they should have gone back when they were 18, but think back to your childhood and tell me honsetly that you could leave everything you've known to some where you know nothing. Further more, holding children accountable for what their parents did does not seem like the American sense of justice. After all, what court would charge a child as an accessory because their parents took them along to rob a store? Not one that I know of. So please, take some time to try and gather the arguments of the other side and understand your own so that an educated decision on your part can be made.
Horace Rumphole on Apr 26, 2009 at 07:05:43 said:
Just as the common criminal disregards the possible consequences of his acts, the illegal alien shortsightedly ignores his ultimate fate, deportation. Gutierrez is just another opportunist ethnocentric politician, like Al Sharpton, who sees hegemonic Hispanic political rule in this country based upon the legalization of 20 to 30 million potential voters. He made no headway on his tour, choosing only to preach to the choir and ignoring the majority groups in this country who could make a difference to his cause.
Susan R on Apr 25, 2009 at 19:52:25 said:
Melissa, was it fair to American taxpayers to have to educate your illegal boyfriend? We didn\'t ask for his arrival here either.
Didn\'t you think of this possiblity before you got involved and had a kid?
So because of several generations of poor or illegal behavior, the US taxpayer has to finance illegals and accept them??? No way
If immigration reform smells anything like Amnesty you and Congress will have a fight on their hands. Americans are tired of illegals first.\'
Go home
Melanie Nathan on Apr 25, 2009 at 18:43:17 said:
Please review the Bill albeit an extrordinary ad private measure by Sen,. Feinstein for Shirley Tan, the very week of thia event. It gives hope because the Senator mentions (maybe for the first time) in this forum how she feels about the 100,000 plus families who are impacted by separation due to lack of decent and humane immigration laws. Melanie nathan
to read about Tan case and the Bill
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com
Melissa Nunlist on Apr 25, 2009 at 17:30:29 said:
My Fiance also the father of my son has been in the US since he was a baby.he had no idea he was illagal here in the US. he has been goin to school in the US since kindergarden.He is currenty being detained at york county Prison.the judge ordered him removal.Its not fair to us at all.im so afraid of my son and i loosing him.
Susan R on Apr 25, 2009 at 16:59:06 said:
No one is forcing families to be separated. Take you illegal spawn home with you. I do not consider anchor babies citizens since noone even an infant should profit from illegal activity
Go home All of you/
T,Vega on Apr 25, 2009 at 14:36:40 said:
we need to look at what these people do here for all of us if we all think about it they do the jobs that other do not want. I\\\'m a US citisen and I am married to a illegal. we have been together for 10yr. We are currently tryingto fix his papers but USCIS say we do not meet the Extreme hardship so they want him to stay in mexico for 10yr. I have a 15 yr I can not move other so what do I do. I love my daughter and I love my husband. Please we need a Immigration reform that will help everyone. I husband paid taxes we never asked for any thing.
Legal1 on Apr 25, 2009 at 12:17:46 said:
Gee, How sad. Sad that these illegal didn't think of the implications of coming here. If these parents don't want to split up then take them back with you to your own company! We are tired of illegals taking our tax dollars. We do not want to raise your anchor babies either!
MaryJ on Apr 25, 2009 at 09:55:30 said:
Will they hear from American families who have been separated from their loved ones by illegal immigrant murderers?
-->