Thousands rally for immigration reform in DC
Photo
Immigration reform demonstrators hold up signs as they rally across from the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., before departing on their bus trip to Washington, Saturday, March 20, 2010. The group from across the state will join up with a predicted 100,000 demonstrators on the National Mall for the March for America rally, Sunday.
WASHINGTON — Frustrated with the pace of action to overhaul the country's immigration system, thousands of demonstrators descended on the nation's capital Sunday, waving American flags and holding homemade signs in English and Spanish.
President Barack Obama, who promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year, sought to reassure those at the rally with a video message presented on giant screens at the National Mall. The president said he was committed to working with Congress this year on a comprehensive bill to fix a "broken immigration system."
Obama said problems include families being torn apart, employers gaming the system and police officers struggling to keep communities safe.
The president, whose comments were released as he worked to get last-minute votes on a health care overhaul, said he would do everything in his power to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform.
Some demonstrators were disappointed immigration reform hasn't come sooner.
Adolfo Recinas, 38, held one end of a large banner reading "Latinos for Legalization and Immigration Reform." Recinas said his message to Congress was: "Don't make any more excuses."
"I'm illegal and I got a business. I pay taxes," said the Prince Georges County resident who moved to the U.S. some 23 years ago and now lives northeast of D.C.
There are about 12 million undocumented immigrants. March organizers said people traveled from around the country in hopes the rally will re-energize the legislative effort to create a mechanism for them to gain legal status.
"It is hard because most people are worried about health care reform and stuff," said Manuel Bettran, a 21-year-old college student from Chicago who came by bus.
Bettran said his parents overstayed their visas in the U.S. but were able to take advantage of an amnesty in the 1980s to become citizens.
"Fortunately, they were able to become citizens during the last amnesty but I know many people that weren't that lucky," said the American-born Bettran, adding that his brother was never able to gain legal status and had to leave the U.S.
Mar 22, 2010 at 11:50 a.m.
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I hate to tell y'all this...but...you're all illegal immigrants. Have a good day. :)
Mar 22, 2010 at 9:50 a.m.
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The prez will make the illegals citizens soon. Obamas plan to expand the democrats entitlement voting bloc.
The more people they get hooked on Government handouts, they insure themselves of winning future elections.Washington is full of snake oil, and we always buy it.
Mar 22, 2010 at 9:25 a.m.
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Why dont they go back to Mexico and help build it up, they dont have any idea what it took to make the US what it is today, they just want to ride on our coattails. They dont have any right to demand anything period.
Mar 22, 2010 at 9:07 a.m.
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Well said, RAF, on your earlier posts! Right on!
Mar 22, 2010 at 7:44 a.m.
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Sarah do you think our borders should be open to let anyone come and go as they wish with no control at all?
Mar 22, 2010 at 6:54 a.m.
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meant to write "not acceptable and wrong"....It's early:)
Mar 22, 2010 at 6:52 a.m.
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Sarah.....No one is attacking immigrants--people are only speaking out with regards to those who are in this country illegally. People post more often on articles like this, because in other articles involving crimes being committed we don't have a contingent stating that "the bank robber should be left alone" or "we need to be more sympathetic towards the plight of the rapist".....In any of these other cases, it is universally accepted that illegal acts are not acceptable wrong--why should it be any different in this case?
Mar 22, 2010 at 6:49 a.m.
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Sarahb1 communism? C'mon We do not want them and do not need them !
Mar 22, 2010 at 6:40 a.m.
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Sarah...
...no one is attacking immigrants...
...if there are any "attacks", it's on either the trespassers or the fact that the laws are not enforced with any sort of consistency.
Mar 22, 2010 at 1:52 a.m.
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Funny how many of those who continually attack immigrants and claim this is only because a law is broken, rarely post on other stories concerning laws being broken. What's up with that?
Mar 21, 2010 at 10:18 p.m.
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Can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop using the phrase "illegal immigrant"????
There is NO such thing, People...a person is either an immigrant and therefore, you are here legally....or you are illegal and therefore, you are not an immigrant, but a trespasser.
Mar 21, 2010 at 10:16 p.m.
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Do some research and you will see that many of the immigrations laws passed in late 1800's/early 1900's probably were "racially" motivated but I don't think that applies today. I think that controls are needed now. Like 916WI said, California, Texas and Florida would have the best economies in the country if unrestricted immigration was good. IMO, the reasons the govt turns a blind eye to illegal immigration is money and votes. Republican big-business types like the fact they drive down wages. Democrat liberal types don't want to appear xenophobic and loose minority votes.
Mar 21, 2010 at 9:40 p.m.
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Janesvillean....Out comes the racism card ....huh? It's totally relevant whether or not they entered the country illegally--the act of a person breaking the law within the first 5 minutes of being in this country somewhat negates the "responsible citizen" angle you're pushing.....As far as the illegals contributing to the communities in which they live in--try telling that to California. They are going broke attempting to deal with their immigration problems--to the tune of $10.5 billion annually.....
Mar 21, 2010 at 7:26 p.m.
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"It's really irrelevant whether someone crossed the border "illegally". If they act as a responsible citizen they should be offered a path to citizenship."
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This is like saying the bank robber should not be prosecuted if no one was hurt and the stolen money is spent on rose colored glasses.....
Mar 21, 2010 at 7:23 p.m.
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"Opposition to immigration is rooted in racism -- pretty much whenever it's an issue"
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No. Opposition to illegal immigration is rooted in defending the laws of our country. The racism and bigotry card, for or against, are played by those who wish not discuss the issue rationally.
Mar 21, 2010 at 6:31 p.m.
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Opposition to immigration is rooted in racism -- pretty much whenever it's an issue. Most developed countries in the 21st century will be facing population declines and large increases in retirement age groups supported by shrinking pools of workers. The US is maintaining parity largely through immigration (both legal and illegal). You really don't realize the magnitude of the benefit. We look back today and see the importance of the European immigrants who came to our shores.
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It's really irrelevant whether someone crossed the border "illegally". If they act as a responsible citizen they should be offered a path to citizenship.
Mar 21, 2010 at 5:55 p.m.
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fishingal: Are you sure you're an American? You sound more like the Communists we were taught to fear as children.
Mar 21, 2010 at 5:34 p.m.
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Exactly.
It's amazing that they are demonstrating like they are Americans with the right to demonstrate.
They are illegal immigrants and should not be heard. They have no rights under our constitution until they become citizens of the US.
Scoop them up and send them home.
Mar 21, 2010 at 5:19 p.m.
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An event like this one would be a good time to fuel up a couple of hundred buses to start loading these illegals up and ship them back to their homeland.....
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