New Mexicans Head to DC to Demand Immigration Reform
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March 19, 2010
SANTA FE - Dozens of New Mexicans from across the state are headed to the nation's capitol this weekend to join tens of thousands from around the country in a march demanding immediate immigration reform. Marcela Diaz will be there - she directs the statewide immigrants rights group Somos un Pueblo Unido. She says any reform bill should include a path to citizenship for the more than 12 million undocumented people estimated to be living and working in the United States.
"Some of their children are U.S. citizens. These are communities that are greatly contributing to our local economies and our national economy and are really a part of our country now."
Diaz says the state and nation are missing out on untold tax revenues as long as the status quo remains in place. She points to a recent UCLA study that found legalizing undocumented immigrants could result in an additional $1.5 trillion of total gross domestic product.
Marina Piña is a student at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales where she helped convince the local school board to pass a resolution supporting the DREAM Act. That bill would provide a path to permanent residency for some undocumented high school graduates who want to attend college. She'll be at the march on Sunday because she says reform is needed for the many young people who are tripped up by the immigration system through no fault of their own.
"There are many high school students who want to attend college and have a better life for themselves and to contribute to this country, but they can't because they don't have the legal documents."
Opponents say such a plan could be unfair to American workers, while rewarding people who break immigration laws. The March for America is set to begin with a rally on the National Mall at 2:00 p.m EDT on Sunday.