Commentary: Hundreds of immigrants and their children from more than fifteen counties in New Mexico will hold a demonstration in front of the Roundhouse on Monday, January 25th to protest the seventh attempt by the Governor and her anti-immigrant allies to use the Real ID Act to discriminate against immigrant families.
Members of Somos Un Pueblo Unido will deliver thousands of petitions urging the Governor and legislators to stop persecuting immigrant workers and families and support a true Real ID compromise that does not brand drivers based on national origin and status.
The protest comes after the House Regulatory and Public Affairs Committee voted along party lines to move forward Republican Rep. Pacheco's HB99, a proposal that would force hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans to go through the additional federally mandated procedures to upgrade their licenses, and that would take away licenses from over 90,000 immigrant residents. Pacheco's bill would force immigrants to carry a discriminatory one-year driving privilege card and it would also require MVD to send information about undocumented immigrants to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, requirements not mandated by the Real ID Act.
Immigrant Day of Action kicks off a series of Moral Monday marches and rallies co-organized by the New Mexico Federal of Labor--AFL-CIO. Labor, faith, human rights, health and education advocates will also take part in the day's events.
What: Immigrant Day of Action Protest
When: Protest is on Monday, January 25, 2016 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Where: Walk to Capitol begins at 11:30 AM at Railyard Park (740 Cerrillos Rd. Santa Fe)
Protest begins on east concourse of the Capitol at 12:00 PM.
Event co-sponsors:
Somos Un Pueblo Unido, NM Federation of Labor, NM Catholic Conference of Bishops, New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice & Equality New Mexico.
For more information: Marcela Diaz, Somos Un Pueblo Unido 505-670-9301