Although the nation is in the midst of a government shutdown, and nearing the risk of an economic collapse if congress does not raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17, there are still millions of Americans standing on the frontlines fighting to keep immigration reform alive.
Roughly 11 million undocumented workers are living in the shadows, and yet comprehensive immigration reform legislation has little to no chance of passing this year as congress remains deadlocked over partisan politics.
In June, the Democratic-led Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill which fell flat in the GOP-lead House as many Republicans refused to vote on the bill. Since then, the faltering issue has remained mainly buried under the radar in Washington politics.
Nonetheless, frustrated activists and supporters from around the country hit the streets earlier this month to take part in the "National Day of Immigrant Dignity and Respect," calling for reform and a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. Organizers estimate that around 50,000 participated in the national day of action Oct. 5 at more than 150 sites in 40 cities to pressure congress to act before the end of the year. In New York, hundreds of supporters gathered at the Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn for the March for Immigrant Dignity & Respect, a rally and march across the Brooklyn Bridge coordinated by the New York Immigration Coalition.
At the demonstration, Diana Ordonee, a 17-year-old Dreamer, said that her advocacy for reform does not stem from her political stance or ideology. Rather, her education, future and livelihood depends on it since she, like most high school students, desperately wants to continue her education in the U.S.
"Immigration reform is a big part of my life. I advocate a lot for it because if nothing gets done, then there's a big possibility that I won't be able to continue my education and go to college," said the Yonkers student, who aspires to go to medical school, while speaking to Latinos Post.
"I'm definitely working hard to earn scholarships, but nothing is secure. There is a lot of insecurity about my future," she added, stressing that she needs reform to pass so that she can go to medical school and "help people who can't afford good healthcare."
Cris Mercado, the founder of GrantAnswers, said he attended the march "to show solidarity," and because he sympathizes with the millions of students who won't be able to pursue their dreams. "I know a lot of talented, promising undocumented immigrants who could be doing a lot of work to help this country become better, more prosperous. But just because they're missing a paper or two, that often times [is not] their own fault, they can't contribute to the country," he told LP.
At the beginning of October, House Democrats presented an immigration reform bill that would provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers currently living in the U.S. along with tighten border security. However, sources say the bill is expected to receive predominantly Democratic support and languish in the House without ever coming to a vote since House Speaker John Boehner has declared he has no plans to bring the bipartisan Senate bill to the House floor.
When asked why Republicans are stalling on the bill, New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams said candidly at the march that it boils down to "xenophobia."
"It's really about xenophobia. They don't want to get rid of immigrants; they just want to keep the labor that they bring to this country without giving them a fair shot," he said.
Another local official who spoke at the rally, Public Advocate-Elect Latisha James, added that "No one should be treated separate and no one should be treated unequal," she said. "So we need immigration reform, we need people to come out of the shadows and be full citizens because they work on this city, they contribute to this city and we should respect their rights."
In spite of the efforts of organizers, officials and supporters, Adolfo Carrion, the former Deputy Assistant to President Obama and current New York City Mayoral Independent candidate, is doubtful that the ten-year fight for immigration reform will finally come to an end in 2013.
"The prospects for this are slim, at best," he told LP adding, "Here we are years later, and we're still stuck. My fear is that there will not be immigration reform this year."
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