Every year the United States government says it will look at its immigration policy and make major changes, and every year it pushes immigration reform back, said Jesse Martinez, the adviser for Movimiento Activista Social.
“This year it is actually happening,” he said.
This year there are eight members of Congress who created a draft of an immigration reform bill, and the nation is trying to raise awareness, Martinez said.
University of Idaho’s student organization MAS is hosting a rally, along with many other organizations across the nation, on May 1.
Martinez said there will be rallies in Boise and Idaho Falls — along with many other cities — to get the word out about the bill.
“Our main hope with this rally is to really have people see the humanistic approach,” he said. “A lot of times we see numbers and statistics, pros and cons of reform, but it will be great for people to see first-hand what undocumented immigrants go through.”
Martinez said the main purpose of the reform is to find a way for people who are undocumented to become American citizens, because right now there is no way.
There are 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., he said, and many of them were brought here when they were little and had no choice, but have to face multiple barriers in creating a life here.
Martinez said often when immigration reform is brought up people automatically think the borders will open and anyone will be allowed in.
He said that is not the case, though, as the government can implement timelines or other restrictions regarding how undocumented immigrants can become legal citizens.
In the summary of Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 a plan is slated to be created to improve border security, create a Registered Provisional Immigrant Program and change interior enforcement and anti-fraud practices.
Alejandra Gonzalez, a UI student and member of MAS, said though people do not agree with everything in this bill, it is a good step in immigration reform.
“The fact that there is a bill means that people have come together to let their legislature know we need reform,” she said.
She said the main purpose of the May 1 rally is to mobilize and inform the people about the reform policies America has.
Hopefully that will bring people together to make some changes in the immigration reform policies, she said.
Hosting the rally is a tradition for the club, Gonzalez said.
“It is our obligation as an activist organization to fight to keep our families together,” she said.
Gonzalez knows that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the topic of immigration reform, but thinks that once people see then human, emotional side people might be more open to the idea.
The rally will have multiple speakers who will share their stories and testimonies, she said.
She said they have a few undocumented immigrants who are students that are looking forward to sharing their story.
Also, faculty and staff who are big advocates of social movements will share their struggles and success in the U.S. as an illegal immigrant or from an immigrant background.
The rally starts at 5:30 p.m. May 1 in the courtyard of the Idaho Commons, and Martinez said there will be a few speakers to help motivate the people before they begin the march to Friendship Square.
At Friendship Square there will be a few more speakers, and then people are encouraged to head to the Kenworthy Theatre for a screening of the documentary “The Dream is Now.”
Martinez said this rally is connected to the national government, but also to the lives of the undocumented immigrants who are living in America.
He said they are marching for reform as well as for other people, and that everyone is welcome.
Allison Griffith can be reached at [email protected]