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Thousands march against
immigration bill

Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published March 31, 2006

Detroit – When Efrain Zamudio, Christian Service coordinator at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, suggested to pastor Msgr. Donald Hanchon the idea of a rally against proposed draconian immigration reforms, the hope was for maybe 2,000 people.

But more than five times that many, perhaps even 10 times that many people or more — mobilized primarily by Catholic parishes – made their opposition to the proposed immigration bill known Monday by marching from southwest Detroit to downtown.

They gathered outside Most Holy Redeemer Church, at Junction Avenue and West Vernor Highway, and then proceeded the nearly five miles to the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building on Michigan Avenue at Cass.

The demonstration culminated with speeches on the plaza in front of the studios of WDIV-TV (Channel 4) on Lafayette Boulevard.

At least 10,000 people march from Most Holy Redeemer Church Mondayon their way to the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in downtown Detroit to demonstrate their opposition to H.R. 4437, the proposed immigration bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for years.

The flags of the United States, the Vatican, Mexico and various central American countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua – were visible in the crowd, as well as Most Holy Redeemer's banner with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Along the way, many chanted "Si, se puedo" ("Yes, we can"), which has become a common slogan for those opposing the immigration status crackdown, but there were also chants of "Cristo, Cristo Rey" ("Christ, Christ the King") from some marchers.

Many people took the day off work or school, and many protestors marched as families, with children in hand or pushed in strollers.

And signs in English and Spanish proclaimed sentiments such as "We are not terrorists. We are hard workers," and "Illegals pay taxes too."

Detroit Police Cmdr. John Serda, in command of police at the starting point, put the size of the demonstration at 10,000 people. But Msgr. Hanchon said many people joined along the route, so the number had probably grown to at least 15,000, perhaps more like 20,000, by the time they arrived downtown.

Protestors hold signs against proposed immigration law changes would penalize undocumented workers, even those who have lived in the United States for years.

Most of the marchers were Hispanic residents of Detroit and its suburbs, and what brought them out in force was H.R. 4437, which would tighten border security and criminalize anyone in the United States who is here illegally. It would even make it a felony to provide any assistance to an illegal alien – a provision Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has said he is prepared to defy.

Reached in Rome on Tuesday, Cardinal Adam Maida said, "As a nation, we value law and order. As a Church, we embrace charity and compassion. Any new legislation regarding immigration needs to respect both realities."

Already adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, the proposed legislation is now being considered by the U.S. Senate.

At the WDIV site on Monday, Msgr. Hanchon told the gathering, "When the possibility is there of 11 million people being declared felons at the stroke of a pen, we can't let that pass. When people who help them can also be declared felons, we can't let that stand."

The issue H.R. 4437, already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and now being considered by a U.S. Senate committee, would tighten border security and criminalize undocumented workers, as well as making it a felony to lend them any assistance. A substitute bill (Kennedy-McCain) would instead establish "guest worker" status for undocumented workers, as President George W. Bush has proposed.

Later, Msgr. Hanchon said he believes most Christians will oppose the legislation once they understand just what it will do.

Fr. Russ Kohler, pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, was with other members of his parish when they joined the demonstration as it reached Michigan and Sixth Street, just blocks from his church.

He said Msgr. Hanchon had "brought home the urgency of the issue" in his homily at the St. Patrick's Day Mass at Most Holy Trinity.

"I think we all sat up and took notice. He alerted us to the injustice of it, not only to undocumented workers, but also to those of us who would help them," Fr. Kohler added.

Deacon Ron McIntyre of Most Holy Redeemer, who also took part in the demonstration, commented, "To criminalize people with undocumented status is both a violation of Christian principles and universal human rights."

Monday's demonstration against the proposed immigration bill fills Michigan Avenue and around the corner onto Cass Avenue by the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, as an estimated 10,000 marched from Most Holy Redeemer Church in southwest Detroit.

It also runs counter to the foundation of the American legal system, he said. "This country has had a tacit acceptance of undocumented workers. Our legal system is based on the British common law tradition, and by the common law concept their being in the country cannot be considered illegal if it's been accepted for years," Deacon McIntyre explained.

"I think that we need to tighten our borders, but for those people who have been here for years and contributed to the economy, we ought to regularize their status," he added.

Juan Pacheco, who brought his wife and four children to take part in the demonstration, said he came from Mexico almost 10 years ago, but is now concerned about trouble with his immigration status and having to take his children – all American citizens – back to Mexico.

Graciela Traverzo, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac, said she was there even though she was born a U.S. citizen. "I'm Puerto Rican, but I'm here supporting the Mexicans. Besides, I get treated like I'm an illegal alien because I speak Spanish," she said.