Mar 26, 2006 11:23 pm US/Central
Demonstrators To Take On Immigration Reform
by Dorothy Tucker
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Demonstrators take to the streets and head to Washington protesting a controversial immigration bill that would affect 11 million illegal immigrants.
The proposal would make illegal immigration a felony and build walls along the borders. The U.S. House has already passed the legislation, and this week the Senate will take up the issue
What is expected to be an emotional debate on Capitol Hill was played out in the streets of America this weekend. From Los Angeles to Denver to Chicago, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators united.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports more than 200 immigrants and supporters Sunday are headed to Washington to lobby U.S. senators.
"What we're in favor is legislation such as proposed by McCain and Kennedy that would allow the undocumented to earn their right to be here and ultimately become citizens," said activist Fred Tsao.
What they don't favor is legislation that the U.S. House has already passed -- laws that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and make it a crime for pastors like Curran to assist them.
"I could be charged with a felony and believe you me, I am not going to stop my ministry because of a bad law," Curran said.
"To me, it's a question of common sense," said Bishop Joseph Mann with the Chicago Archdiocese office of immigration and refugees.
"They're productive members of society. I don't know how we would get along without them," Mann said.
That's the message that was heard last weekend in Chicago and this weekend around the country. It will be repeated Monday when this crowd gathers with thousands of others in D.C.
Sonia Gomez will be there.
"I feel like my human rights are being violated," Gomez said. She's a high school senior and an undocumented immigrant.
"It's terrifying. If I were to do something wrong, a tiny little thing, I would get scrutinized and I would be punished to the extreme," she said.
It's a 14 hour bus ride to Washington. Chicago travelers are scheduled to arrive Monday morning. They will attend a noon rally and spend the rest of the day lobbying senators. The Senate will begin debating the immigration proposals on Tuesday.
The demonstrations are expected to culminate on April 10 in a National Day of Action that will be organized by labor, immigration, civil rights and religious groups.
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