May Day! May Day! Immigrants Overboard!

On Tuesday, the May Day immigration rallies were held in Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago once again this year, hoping to rally as much support as last year. However, this year’s turnout was only a fraction of the million-plus protesters that came out last year. It was projected that after the numerous immigration raids in the last year, the immigrant community was hesitant to participate in the protest.

In the Boston Area alone, marches were set up in East Boston, Lowell, Fitchburg, Amherst, and Worcester. Some of the workers arrested in the New Bedford Raid spoke at
Harvard Square and Jamaica Plain. No rallies were planned at Atlanta though, because many of the immigrants were afraid of a new state law that was set to be in effect in July. This law would require verification that adults must be legal who seek non-emergency state-administered benefits.

Many of those who marched set the immediate goal of keeping immigration reform from being forgotten by the time the 2008 elections came ago. However, others feel that the marches themselves are not enough to force Congress to pass immigration legislation and instead are focusing on citizenship and voter registration as opposed to street demonstrations. "If we don't act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

Immigrant rights groups in conjunction to faith-based advocates have been pushing for allowing immigrants without documentation to be permitted to earn credits toward permanent status if they are employed and meet requirements. The recent immigration raids and rallies have been focusing points that have captured the attention of the public to see the immediate need for immigration reform. As with most public policy issues, it appears that various solutions are available to solve the immigration issue. If the plebiscitary vision is in play, then perhaps politicians will recognize that the lobbying and public support is present in immigration rights groups and should make decisions accordingly. However, it is still unclear what type of legislations will be brought up to the floor to undergo the “idea->bill->law->regulation” process prior changes in immigration will occur.