Immigration Reform Actions Around the Country

Immigration Reform Actions Around the Country

Around the country there has been a wave of actions calling for comprehensive immigration reform and a call to Stop Arizona's S.B. 1070.

As part of a national week of action for comprehensive immigration reform, a coalition of labor, business, faith and community leaders -- including Alderman George Cardenas, in an act of peaceful disobedience were arrested outside of ICE's Field Office in Chicago.

The activists blocked the field office to draw attention to the economic benefit for the nation if a comprehensive immigration reform is approved and also stressed that Arizona’s enforcement-only policies that lead to racial profiling should be repealed before their implementation in August.

While supporters rallied around them, the 32 immigration activists risking arrest piled bags with dollar signs outside of the ICE Field Office and sat down blocking the entrance.

As expected, a Department of Homeland Security agent approached the group and told them they were in violation of the law, and that if they did not move they would be arrested. The group responded by chanting, "What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!"

After the third warning the group sang "We Shall Not Be Moved" and the agents began making arrests.

These arrests, part of a wave of civil disobedience sweeping across the country, highlight just how urgent our need for immigration reform is. Politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, should take note - we aren't willing to wait any longer. We can no longer afford a broken immigration system that destroys families, drives down wages, and hurts our economy.