CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) – Attempting to show the wide-ranging impact of federal immigration enforcement activity, leaders from immigrant rights advocacy groups and labor unions rallied in Chicago’s Daley Plaza on Monday; US Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia headlining a long list of speakers.
“It is shameful, no military tactics need to be used at this time.”, said Garcia.
Congressman Garcia, with about a hundred people representing all walks of immigrant life standing behind him, responds to President Donald Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard to quell immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles over the weekend.
The Congressman is in support of governors across the United States who are resisting the deputization of national guard resources under, what he says, is a guise from the Trump Administration… that there is a national emergency.
“There never was, and if anyone is responsible for any of the provocateurs and their violent actions it is the Trump Administration, Stephen Miller, and Tom Homan, who seek to portray an emergency that does not exist.”, Garcia adds.
Asked if there is concern that what is happening in California might play out in Illinois, Representative Garcia said that protests in Chicago have historically remained peaceful, but there will be a careful eye kept on possible agitators seeking to infiltrate the peaceful struggles of the immigrant community and their allies.
While much of the local outrage over Trump Administration immigration enforcement has centered around people from Latin America, there are impacts on the much broader immigrant community.
“We stand united today, in resistance to the new Trump travel ban, which targets twelve countries”, said Nadiah Alyafai, an organizer with the Arab American Action Network.
With additional restrictions on seven more countries Alyafai, who is originally from Yemen, is among Chicagoans from China, Africa, and the Middle East who are concerned with their own safety and that of their families, regardless of immigration status.
“We must be clear that this is undeniably rooted in anti-Muslim, anti-Black, and anti-Arab racism.”, said Alyafai, adding that Trump Administration policies deliberately undermine immigrant rights, their freedom, and their dignity, “Now our families will be further torn apart, as we will be unable to be reunited with loved ones, and elders, in other countries simply because of our nationality.”
Fasika Alem, with the United African Organization says that the story of Black immigrants is often overlooked,
“This week has hit our community hard,” said Alem, “labeling entire nations as great threats, undermines America’s values of fairness, due process, and human dignity.”
The feeling of dignity being stripped away, is expressed by representatives within a number of Chicago’s immigrant communities.
Grace Chan McKibben is with the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community.
“The Trump Administration in recent months has singled out China in his attack, from restricting and revoking international student visas to unfair trade policies.”, said Chan McKibben.
Congressman Garcia and those gathered on Monday in Chicago also called for the release of SEIU President David Huerta and all other people they might considered to be political detainees. The leader of the top service industry union was taken into custody on Friday in Los Angeles, while monitoring federal immigration enforcement operations there.
