by Barrington M. Salmon
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
Illinois Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez fired up an audience of immigrants, dreamers and supporters of immigration reform Thursday night during a town hall in D.C., where he promised to continue advocating for widespread and comprehensive immigration reform.
Gutierrez, speaking before a group of almost 200 people who packed the Bell Multicultural High School auditorium, spent much of his speech — in a mixture of Spanish and English — explaining large and small details of President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. He also painted the broad picture of immigration reform nationally.
Obama’s executive action, signed on Nov. 20, allows almost five million undocumented immigrants to apply for protected status. It also stopped the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants and offers the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens or residents with legal permanent residency status the opportunity to apply for work permits under a new deferred action program.
Gutierrez, a Democrat born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents, is an unabashed and unapologetic champion for all immigrants regardless of their status.
“This is the largest opening we’ve had in 40 years,” he said of the executive action. “Five million people are qualified. Be clear, though, that that this isn’t the immigration reform we’re fighting for. We will not be satisfied until every one of the 11 million people who work so hard will be allowed to stay.”
“I’m a human being, know the vernacular, and believe in justice for these 11 million people.”
After receiving a sustained, spirited standing ovation from the predominantly Spanish speaking-crowd, Gutierrez shared his parents’ story.
“My mom was 17 … and my father was 20 when they came to the U.S. in 1952,” he recalled. “I was born in 1953. There was nothing, no hope in Puerto Rico. They arrived with no coat, no English, knew no one. There was no sign which said, ‘Welcome Borinquen.’ Do you know what they heard? They were perceived as a criminal threat, people thought they brought tropical illnesses. Don’t you hear the same thing now?
“My parents may not have been able to stand up but I am … there are 55 million Latinos here and 48 million are like me: citizens of the US. We will not support anyone who opposes those who have papers and those who don’t.”
During the question-and-answer section, a woman who identified herself as Yesenia Garcia put a face on the immigration issue. The single mother said she escaped to the United States, fleeing from the violence in her Latin American country. She sought political asylum but could fulfill the requirements such a status require. Garcia, a mother and student who is the caregiver for her grandparents, said she lived with an American citizen but became the victim of domestic violence.
“When DAPA was signed, I thought I would come out of the shadows but my hope didn’t last long,” she said. “I’m filled with frustration and uncertainty. Please give me clarity.”
Gutierrez encouraged her to protect herself from deportation by filling out the necessary paperwork and applying for a work permit.
The Polls manipulate the REAL truth and majorities of the uneducated believe them?
I would only trust Billionaire Businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz or former Governor Huckabee or Carson with my vote. The other politicians can spend ‘ALL’ the millions they want, but especially Bush or Clinton would never get my vote? I would not trust Hillary with my Mothers ashes. We have many crooks in Congress, but we have three great possibilities. Trump: I Would Build the Greatest Wall You Have Ever Seen on the Mexican Border. Trump cannot be brought like the Hillary Clinton and others.
Donald Trump has the guts to stop the jobs going to China, Mexico and other places. He said that he believes in ‘Free Trade’ but he would charge 35% tariffs to anybody importing products into America and he has credence that companies building outside of America, will be instead manufacturing their goods in America. Trump has a tough spine and will not take any crap from other countries or even inept issues that this President and his minions are incapable of doing. He is not beholding to the lobbyists and can stop them from ripping of the country.
Are you in search of the uninhibited truth and not the rhetoric or propaganda from the GOP establishment or the Democrats? Then click on http://www.judicialwatch.org and http://www.oann.com. This is unbiased review of legal, non-profit foundation that blatantly tells you the facts about corruption in Federal, state and local government. In many instances this administration and Congress ‘believe they are above the law’, but Judicial Watch carefully examines the law and will take them to court to be held accountable? The American News network, a 7/24 cable broadcast offers world wide news, and not the prejudiced, partisan news that has leanings of either Democrats, liberal or even the Republicans.
Judicial Watch relays to the taxpayer in the ‘Corruption Files’ about the menace of ISIS terrorist camps just across the border from El Paso, Texas. The IRS and Clinton scandal and the illegal alien invasion and why it should cause you financial major concerns. Read the facts about the Pacific trade deal that could be just adverse as the NAFTA agreement. Read the facts and not the lies from the Obama administration, from the GOP Establishment and the menacing liberals. Neither political party can be trusted as they are both held hostage by donor cronyism or special interests, with the American people coming in second place.