Demanding immigrant rights

Immigrant communities and their allies are organizing resistance nationwide in the face of stubborn government inaction on the issue of immigrant rights and continuing acts of anti-immigrant terrorism on the part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The demand for full legal equality is being voiced repeatedly in the U.S./Mexico border county of San Diego.

On Feb. 14 a local church near downtown San Diego organized a pro-immigrant rights march of parishioners following religious services. On Feb. 22 the first of a series of community meetings, organized by the San Diego American Friends Service Committee and hosted by various community organizations, took place. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Social Justice Parent Committee, a packed classroom of community residents listened carefully as AFSC spokesperson Christian Ramirez called for mass action to win immigrant rights. More such community meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks. On Feb. 28 a protest called by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations drew immigrant rights supporters to a rally at the downtown Federal Building.

Last spring several Latino/a students on their way to school were arrested by ICE and deported to Tijuana, Mexico, where they knew no one. The community’s outrage was undoubtedly a deciding factor in the recent decision in the students’ cases. Local immigration attorney Lilia Velasquez announced Feb. 24 that a federal judge had ruled that he didn’t have jurisdiction because of discrepancies with the charging documents. So the children can continue their lives on this side of the border for now — and for the future, too, if the people have anything to say about it!