Farm workers urge U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Greg Walden to support immigration reform with path to citizenship, demand protection for workers’ families and end deportations
United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation and other immigrant rights group to host procession and vigil outside Tacoma Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, WA − As the nation’s Catholics come together to celebrate La Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexican Catholics’ patron saint, on Dec. 12, the United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, Radio Campesina and other immigrant rights groups will host a procession and vigil in Tacoma asking Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to endorse comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Farm workers, students, families and members of the faith community will come together for a procession and vigil culminating at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center to demand an end to deportations and the separation of families and that Congress overhaul our country’s broken immigration system. The Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, where immigrants detained by immigration officers are transferred to be processed for deportation, is the only facility of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
The event is being sponsored by immigrant rights groups throughout the states of Washington and Oregon organizing to defend the welfare of immigrant families. In targeting Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, the Republican legislator who represents the 5th Congressional District in Eastern Washington, and Republican Greg Walden, who represents the 2nddistrict in Oregon, these groups hope to advance currently stalled immigration legislation in the House of Representatives.
Immigration reform activists, who plan on mobilizing communities in both states, seek to ramp up the pressure on Republican legislators during Congress’s last days in session this year. Friday, Dec. 13, is the last day Congress is expected to be in session. The procession and vigil, held on a day of celebration for the nation’s Catholics, aims to highlight the pain and suffering of immigrant families living under the constant threat of deportation absent a working immigration system.
WHAT: Procession and vigil at Tacoma Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA calling for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.)to support comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship and an end on deportations.
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 12, at 10:30a.m.
WHO: Farm workers and immigrant rights advocates from the states of Washington and Oregon.
Where: Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA, 98421.
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The UFW, UFW Foundation, Campesina Radio Network, and the Cesar Chavez Foundation have been actively involved in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform through its ‘Con La Union de Campesinos Tendremos Papeles’ (With the United Farm Workers, we will get our papers) nationwide campaign. Last month just before Thanksgiving, the farm worker movement, in collaboration with other pro-immigration organizations, delivered wine and turkey to House Representatives in D.C. as part of the "Do Your Jobs" campaign. In Hermiston, Oregon, the farm worker movement has also been involved in other community actions for immigration reform seeking to reach to the mind and heart of Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and asking him to push for a House vote. More activities are being planned for the month of December. To get involved, visit our website at www.ufw.org or call a UFW office in your area.