Immigration rally against family separation held in Cathedral City
A rally by local activists Friday morning called for family integrity and no separation in Cathedral City.
The immigration policy has been enforced by the US Justice Department as part of its border enforcement routine to curb illegal immigration. Parents would be taken into custody, prosecuted and jailed while the children were taken to other facilities.
Activists say many of the border-crossers simply are looking for asylum and see the policy as a deterrent.
“It’s a tactic by this administration to really get to the individuals to take deportation orders and to sign their own deportation, making it so difficult for them to fight their own cases,” Luis Nolasco with the ACLU, said.
Activists are calling for an end to children being separated from their parents. They cite significant psychological harm to the children and a violation of children’s rights.
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Leaders that showed up in support included Monsingor Howard Lincoln of Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, and politicians such as Cathedral City Mayor Pro Tem Greg Pettis.
“We feel it’s unconscionable,” Lincoln said. “We feel it’s simply immoral. In America we do not wretch children from the arms of their mothers.”
Pettis felt the policy was cruel.
“We haven’t had any president that’s even begun to think about things like this and this country needs to rise up and say enough’s enough.,” he said.
Pettis said there were plans to have a town hall meeting in July for community members to discuss immigration issues. An exact date is still being determined.
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
