Connecticut enters national immigration debate with rally

While the nation awaits a decision on the most controversial provision of Arizona’s immigration law, immigration activists in Connecticut held a rally to urge lawmakers not to target Latinos.

Arizona, along with other states, have passed laws that have elicited the ire of immigration attorneys and civil rights activists by allowing police to stop or detain anyone thought to be undocumented.

“This policy will treat us like criminals. We are going to live with uncertainty. That in any moment they will take us prisoner,” shouted Juan Hernandez before a small crowd in front of the capital building.

Connecticut Immigration Rights Coalition held a rally last Wednesday to demonstrate their fear that the state will join the ranks of other states that have passed draconian and almost blatantly prejudicial immigration laws, which appear to specifically target the Latino community.

Most of the rally’s attendees boasted of their legal status, many of whom hired immigration lawyers to become naturalized or obtain green cards, work visas or HB-1 visas. They just wanted to show solidarity for their undocumented peers who may be unfairly targeted by police or federal agents simply because they are Latino.

Being an undocumented immigrant has always been tough but states are cracking down even harder, making many Latinos flee the country or states with particularly tough laws. Any undocumented immigrant can avoid the fear of deportation by allowing an immigration attorney to work on their legal status through the visa or naturalization process.