The Rev. Pedro Portillo, who asked that political leaders show compassion for the families of immigrants. (Paige Kerley/Staff)
Staff writer Paige Kerley reports:
A coalition of community groups calling for immigration reform demonstrated in Dallas on Thursday.
Representatives from Mi Familia Vota and the Texas Organizing Project gathered on the steps of the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts Building to bring attention to the plight of Latino immigrants both in the Dallas area and nationwide.
Following Tuesday’s midterm elections, the power of the vote was at the center of the demonstrators’ attention, and they specifically called on President Barack Obama to take action.
“Democrats take us for granted, and Republicans don’t take us seriously,” said Laura Mendoza, an advocate with Mi Familia Vota.
Mendoza said she had seen the pain of parents who were separated from their children by deportation. She echoed the group’s demand for executive action to reform the immigration process.
“They are not just numbers,” she said. “They are families and human beings.”
Daniel Barrera, TOP’s communications director for Dallas County, said the project’s mission is to make sure Latinos are voting to bring about change in the community.
“As a Latino, I know there is so much at stake not only in the state and locally, but all over the country,” he said. “TOP emphasizes the power of the vote in predominantly minority communities to have them see how to hold leaders accountable.”
The groups chose the courthouse steps as their soapbox for a reason: They planned on requesting a meeting with Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez to protest its cooperation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s program that results in holds or detainers of immigrants. Such holds often result in deportations of those in the U.S. unlawfully, or of legal permanent residents, who haven’t attained U.S. citizenship yet.
The immigration holds are being legally challenged around the nation
Dallas County was one of the first counties in the nation to establish such cooperation with ICE.
As of 11 a.m., the group was settling into the waiting room in the sheriff’s office.
Among the group was the Rev. Pedro Portillo, who asked that political leaders “show compassion” for the families of immigrants in the United States.
“Obama needs to sign executive action to help the thousands of families suffering,” he said. “We need to work together to help these people.”