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| Immigration activists rally in Washington as reform hopes grow | Immigration activists rally in Washington as reform hopes grow |
| (30 days later) | |
| More than 10,000 immigration campaigners thronged the steps of Congress on Wednesday amid hopes that the US was on the cusp of passing the most sweeping reforms for fifty years. | More than 10,000 immigration campaigners thronged the steps of Congress on Wednesday amid hopes that the US was on the cusp of passing the most sweeping reforms for fifty years. |
| As a bipartisan group of senators, known as the gang of eight, prepared to unveil proposals to recognise undocumented workers and relax visa rules, a mood of optimism was growing outside that such legislation would have profound implications. | As a bipartisan group of senators, known as the gang of eight, prepared to unveil proposals to recognise undocumented workers and relax visa rules, a mood of optimism was growing outside that such legislation would have profound implications. |
| "This is a really big deal," said Hector Figueroa, a union leader and one of the organisers of the Time is Now rally. "There are between 11 million and 13 million [undocumented workers] living in this country with deep roots and another 4 million who would like to come and join their families. So you are talking about 15 million lives that we are fighting for. | "This is a really big deal," said Hector Figueroa, a union leader and one of the organisers of the Time is Now rally. "There are between 11 million and 13 million [undocumented workers] living in this country with deep roots and another 4 million who would like to come and join their families. So you are talking about 15 million lives that we are fighting for. |
| "[Successful reform] would add up to a new sense of social justice in this country and a recovery of our democracy and our values," he said. | "[Successful reform] would add up to a new sense of social justice in this country and a recovery of our democracy and our values," he said. |
| The crowd was buoyed by reports that Congress was close to a deal – which may be announced as soon as Friday – between Republican and Democrat senators. | The crowd was buoyed by reports that Congress was close to a deal – which may be announced as soon as Friday – between Republican and Democrat senators. |
| Susana Martinez, a second-generation Mexican migrant living in Laredo, Texas, said: "This is the most upbeat mood that I have seen in the past 15 years." | Susana Martinez, a second-generation Mexican migrant living in Laredo, Texas, said: "This is the most upbeat mood that I have seen in the past 15 years." |
| "There has been a lot of pressure from the Latino community, even though this is something that effects various immigrant groups," she said. "Our presence is finally being heard and a lot of people are feeling bold enough to come forward and identify themselves as immigrants. It's hard to ignore the masses." | "There has been a lot of pressure from the Latino community, even though this is something that effects various immigrant groups," she said. "Our presence is finally being heard and a lot of people are feeling bold enough to come forward and identify themselves as immigrants. It's hard to ignore the masses." |
| The political power of second- and third-generation immigrant families is credited with changing the mood in Washington. A postmortem held by Republican leaders after their defeat in the presidential election concluded that the party need to reach out to such groups to form a national majority in future. | The political power of second- and third-generation immigrant families is credited with changing the mood in Washington. A postmortem held by Republican leaders after their defeat in the presidential election concluded that the party need to reach out to such groups to form a national majority in future. |
| Esther Lopez, a civil rights campaigner from Chicago, said progress in the US Senate was just the start: "We are hopeful of reform, but, more importantly, the Latino community now has electoral power, and we will continue to use that power to ensure that our communities are properly represented." | Esther Lopez, a civil rights campaigner from Chicago, said progress in the US Senate was just the start: "We are hopeful of reform, but, more importantly, the Latino community now has electoral power, and we will continue to use that power to ensure that our communities are properly represented." |
| Like many in the crowd, Lopez was also dismissive of the criticism leveled at immigration reform campaigners that liberalising the system would have the effect of driving down wages for workers in the US. | Like many in the crowd, Lopez was also dismissive of the criticism leveled at immigration reform campaigners that liberalising the system would have the effect of driving down wages for workers in the US. |
| "Flawed immigration policies drive down wages," she said. "If people are here without legal status, then they are more vulnerable to exploitation. We want to raise the standards, but that means people have to be legal to be protected by the labour laws." | "Flawed immigration policies drive down wages," she said. "If people are here without legal status, then they are more vulnerable to exploitation. We want to raise the standards, but that means people have to be legal to be protected by the labour laws." |
| A recent deal between union umbrella group AFL-CIO and lobbyists for business groups to back the Senate immigration proposals is seen as vital in preparing the ground for safe passage through Congress. It saw both sides seek competing assurances about the number of new visas available for unskilled workers. Republicans have also sought assurances that many of the reforms would not be implemented until better steps were taken to secure the US border with Mexico – a delay which the White House had pushed to remove. | A recent deal between union umbrella group AFL-CIO and lobbyists for business groups to back the Senate immigration proposals is seen as vital in preparing the ground for safe passage through Congress. It saw both sides seek competing assurances about the number of new visas available for unskilled workers. Republicans have also sought assurances that many of the reforms would not be implemented until better steps were taken to secure the US border with Mexico – a delay which the White House had pushed to remove. |
| Speaking earlier this week, immigration expert Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations said that successful passage of an immigration reform bill could be the defining achievement of President Obama's second term. | Speaking earlier this week, immigration expert Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations said that successful passage of an immigration reform bill could be the defining achievement of President Obama's second term. |
| "This is much more important than the fairly limited gun control legislation which might pass," he said. "This would be the most important immigration legislation since 1965, when the quota system was set up." | "This is much more important than the fairly limited gun control legislation which might pass," he said. "This would be the most important immigration legislation since 1965, when the quota system was set up." |
| Similar demonstrations have taken place in 18 other US states this week. In Atlanta, more than 1,000 people marched around the Georgia Capitol, calling for comprehensive changes to immigration policy and an end to deportation. | Similar demonstrations have taken place in 18 other US states this week. In Atlanta, more than 1,000 people marched around the Georgia Capitol, calling for comprehensive changes to immigration policy and an end to deportation. |
| And in San Francisco, demonstrators planned to build an altar at the federal building with 1,000 paper flowers, symbolising the number of people deported daily for immigration violations. A gathering in San Diego was being billed as marking "Undocumented Coming Out Day." | And in San Francisco, demonstrators planned to build an altar at the federal building with 1,000 paper flowers, symbolising the number of people deported daily for immigration violations. A gathering in San Diego was being billed as marking "Undocumented Coming Out Day." |
| Sources familiar with the deal being drafted in Congress told the Associated Press on Wednesday that it would include greatly expanded surveillance of the US border with Mexico and greatly increased detention of border crossers in high risk areas. | Sources familiar with the deal being drafted in Congress told the Associated Press on Wednesday that it would include greatly expanded surveillance of the US border with Mexico and greatly increased detention of border crossers in high risk areas. |
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