Local march, rally to call for immigration reform
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published April 27, 2007
Detroit – Several thousand people are expected to take part in a march and rally in southwest Detroit calling for changes in U.S. immigration law on Tuesday, May 1.
The march will begin at 10 a.m. at Patton Park and proceed along West Vernor Highway to Clark Park, where speakers will speak in support for reforms that would allow many currently undocumented immigrants to achieve legal status.
A new immigration bill is widely expected to be passed by Congress later this year, and the rally will also call for a moratorium on unannounced immigration raids at workplaces until the new legislation is in place, said Msgr. Donald Hanchon, who will be among the speakers.
Msgr. Hanchon said he expects many of those who take part in the march will also attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker at Most Holy Redeemer Church, where he is pastor.
Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Flores will speak about the need for immigration reform and the statement of Michigan's Catholic bishops on immigration reform at the 6 p.m. Sunday, April 28 Spanish-language Mass at Most Holy Redeemer.
In their statement, the bishops say immigration legislation should:
- Permit the prompt reunification of families.
- Open a path toward the legalization of undocumented workers currently in the United States.
- Create an efficient system for the future entrance of temporary workers as well as permanent legal residents.
Msgr. Hanchon also said he plans an immigration-related event at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, at the International Institute, on East Kirby at John R, Detroit, on a proposed city ordinance to prohibit racial or ethnic profiling by city employees or reporting undocumented aliens to immigration authorities.
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