Protesters decry deportations
Hundreds march in support of reforms
Hundreds of people marched through downtown Phoenix on Saturday and gathered in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s Phoenix office, attempting to pressure politicians to end deportations and allow young immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
Songs and chants blaming President Obama for the deportation of family members and other difficulties faced by immigrants rang loud as the crowd marched from the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel to the ICE office near McDowell Road and Central Avenue.
Protesters met up with three vehicles along the way, escorted by Phoenix police officers and driven by unlicensed recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
The nationwide policy enables young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before age 16 to remain in the country for a renewable two years and ap- ply for work permits.
Arizona is one of two states that do not allow DACA recipients to obtain driver’s licenses.
The cars, honking to the beat of chants and songs, sported phrases such as “Dreamer Driving” and “#Not1More.”
After protesters arrived in the ICE building’s parking lot, immigrant youth leaders and family members with United We Dream, an immigrantrights organization, emerged from the crowd to highlight the difficulties immigrants face: chiefly the fear of deportation.
They also expressed disapproval of Senate Bill 1062, which was recently approved by the Legislature and would allow businesses in Arizona to refuse service to customers based on religious beliefs.
“This is where all the discrimination happens,” Arizona Dream Act Coalition Treasurer Maria Castro said of the ICE office.
Six people had been camping along the pavement in front of the building for six days, fasting and holding nightly vigils for family members who had been detained, in some cases for years.
Lourdes Hernandez, a mother of four and one of the fasting campers, said things have been difficult since a traffic stop resulted in her husband’s 14-month stint at the ICE detention center in Eloy after he couldn’t provide officers with a license.
Raul Leon, 38, was sent to the detention center for failure to produce a driver’s license during a traffic stop in 2008, but he was released on bail. Leon has been in and out of court since then, attempting to remain in the country with a constant fear of being deported.
He came to Arizona when he was 16, passed the General Educational Development test and does not have a criminal record.
“How can I do all that and still not be wanted to succeed?” Leon said.
He remains in the country due to his 10-year-old son’s legal residence and has become a voice for people facing similar circumstances.
Carolina Cunizales, a United We Dream leadership coordinator, said Leon has been helpful in training others to deal with such circumstances.
“Not only did he lose his fear of fighting back, he helps organize his community to do the same,” Cunizales said.