Morristown group protests stalled immigration reforms

Prayer walk around the Green protests stalled immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Prayer walk around the Green protests stalled immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
2
Prayer walk around the Green protests stalled immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Prayer walk around the Green protests stalled immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

One protester carried a wooden cross.  Another pushed a baby stroller.

They circled the Morristown Green on Tuesday to mark what would have been the first day of a program to ease deportation fears for undocumented parents of children born as U.S. citizens.

Demonstrators gather on the Morristown Green to pray for immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Demonstrators gather on the Morristown Green to pray for immigration reform. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

President Obama’s executive order was blocked by a lawsuit filed by Texas and 25 other states, and endorsed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA,  pertained to more than 4 million people who are parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who have resided in the country for at least five years.

They could have applied for three-year work permits, driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers under the program.

“Every day we live in fear of deportation and being separated from our children,” said a man named Manuel, speaking through an interpreter. The deli worker came to the prayer walk with his wife Sandra, their 11-month-old daughter Daniela, and a stroller. They also have a 3-year-old, Santiago.

Karol Yorlany Ruiz of Wind of the Spirit leads prayer walk from the Morristown Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Karol Yorlany Ruiz of Wind of the Spirit leads prayer walk from the Morristown Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Manuel and Sandra left Mexico 14 years ago.

“There is no opportunity to come the legal way,” Sandra, a house cleaner, said through an interpreter.  “Violence in our country [Mexico] is so great. I’m certain something would happen to us if we stayed in Mexico.”

About 133,000 undocumented immigrant parents in New Jersey would be eligible for DAPA, according  to the Morristown-based advocacy group Wind of the Spirit, which organized the “Jericho Walk.”

Demonstrators  blew shofars and looped the Green seven times, emulating the Biblical march of Joshua, who circled Jericho seven times until its walls fell.

The federal judge in Texas who imposed the injunction earlier this year, Andrew S. Hanen, accused the Obama administration of misconduct, contending that government lawyers were slow to inform him that they already had granted more than 100,000 deferred applications since the President’s executive order in November.

Most of the governors opposing DAPA are Republican.  When asked about those who feel DAPA is unfair to immigrants who came to America legally, the Rev. Osvaldo Jimenez, a Cuban immigrant who is pastor for Hispanic members of Morristown’s First Baptist Church, replied:

“Go to your ancestors and see where they come from. This nation was pretty well raised by immigrants.”

Prayer walk loops the Morristown Green to mark stalled immigration reforms. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Prayer walk loops the Morristown Green to mark stalled immigration reforms. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

 

2 COMMENTS

  1. Afraid of deportation???—Please:

    NOTE & WARNING: The links provided below contain direct quotes from Obama and his officials.

    The Left-Leaning LA Times posted an article that shows that the Obama administration, the Illegal Alien lobby, and the major media outlets have been in collusion to depict the “high” deportation numbers. The exact opposite is true since the beginning of the current President’s policy. Interior deportation has and will be lower than 1973 rates. This is leading towards more people overstaying their visas and currently, more Illegal Alien minors crossing the border. Obama has just recently instructed border patrol to not turn back those Illegal Aliens on record as having entered illegally as priors, but to let them pass IF they don’t have a major criminal record. After the first Illegal Entry, it is a felony each time thereafter.

    Even Obama in 2011, called the deportation numbers deceptive when talking to Hispanic voters. President Obama said statistics that show his administration is on track to deport more illegal immigrants than the Bush administration are misleading.

    “The statistics are a little deceptive,” he said Wednesday in an online discussion aimed at Hispanic voters.”

    “If you are a run-of-the-mill immigrant here illegally, your odds of getting deported are close to zero — it’s just highly unlikely to happen,” John Sandweg, until recently the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    https://thehill.com/policy/technology/184393-obama-calls-for-pathway-to-citizenship-in-online-talk

    https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-obama-deportations-20140402,0,545192,full.story#axzz2xkzioeHR

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/12/deportations-come-mostly-from-border-dhs-chief-say/?page=1

    https://www.nationalreview.com/article/346043/cooking-boo

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/13/immigration-chief-sanctuary-cities-influx-kids/
    “The federal government’s chief deportation agency has seen its success plummet under President Obama, and its chief, Sarah R. Saldana, will tell Congress on Tuesday that they’ve had trouble adapting to the changing face of illegal immigration and a lack of cooperation from both American cities and from foreign countries.

    Ms. Saldana, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), says in testimony prepared for the House Judiciary Committee that the dramatic drop in deportations is a reflection of a trickier set of circumstances and pressures from all sides.

    She said she had to pull agents off their regular duties during last summer’s illegal immigrant surge at the border, which meant fewer people focusing on deporting the longtime illegal immigrants living in the interior of the U.S. And she said the lack of cooperation from states, counties and cities when agents ask them to hold an illegal immigrant for pickup has also hindered efforts.”

  2. HILLARY IS OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FOR MORE VOTERS, LEGAL AND ILLEGAL?

    1 out 10 babies born in the United States is born to an illegal immigrant each year.

    That’s 350,000 to 400,000 illegal children PER YEAR!

    As if that is not bad in itself, thanks to Obama, each child is now a U.S. citizen and eligible for all the benefits children born from residents receive.

    Yes, these illegal children receive health care, Social Security benefits and a U.S. passport.

    As if it weren’t exasperating enough that American taxpayers are being forced to house, feed, medically treat and educate the never-ending influx of illegal immigrant, the Obama administration is also doling out millions of dollars to provide them with free legal representation.

    Trump, as a Presidential Candidate stated “I Would Build the Greatest Wall you have ever seen on the Mexican Border.” Trump cannot be brought like the Hillary Clintons and others who must be provided donor money to survive. Trump doesn’t need ‘Super Pacs’ money that wealthy donors use to bribe our politicians.

    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 apart.

    Are you in search of the unrestrained 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.

LEAVE A REPLY