USA: Hundreds of protesters demand immigration reform before the White House

About 500 immigrants crowded this Thursday in front of the White House to demand the president of USA, Joe Biden, and to the democratic party that they fulfill their electoral promise. Shouting “now” they asked for immigration reform to be approved as soon as possible to give citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants.

Arrived from states like Nevada, New York, Texas and the neighbors Maryland y VirginiaAmong others, the protesters gathered in Lafayette Square, located in front of the presidential residence, to launch slogans and express their dissatisfaction with the delay in Congress of the reform promised by Biden.

“We are not one, we are not a hundred, we are millions, tell us well”Claimed the protesters, who to the beat of drums and displaying colorful posters went from the concentration in the park to a march that took several laps in front of the White House and ended with several of the participants arrested.

Biden’s bill has been bogged down in Congress after Elizabeth MacDonough, who is in charge of interpreting the Senate regulations, rejected both attempts by Democrats to introduce the reform within other legislative proposals.

Democrats want to use the “reconciliation”To approve the immigration changes, since they have not secured the 60 votes necessary to pass laws in the Senate, where they have 50 seats like the Republicans, although they have the vice president’s tiebreaker vote Kamala Harris, who serves as president of the Upper House.

“Today we have a Democratic president, we have Democrats in command of both houses of Congress, so there should be no excuse for not continuing to recognize the efforts and contributions of immigrants.” New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, who joined the demonstration, told EFE.

Meters further and flanked by some of her traveling companions, Kathia Sotelo, who came to Washington from Nevada, he made no secret of his disappointment at the long wait.

“I have been a volunteer during many campaigns and they always promise us that they will give us citizenship or a path to citizenship”This young woman who arrived in the country at the age of 7 told Efe.

Despite being a beneficiary of the DACA program, which prevents the deportation of young people known as “dreamers”(Who entered when they were minors), Sotelo regretted that he cannot access student loans or state aid to continue his university studies at law school because he does not have US citizenship.

Antonia Surco, a Peruvian who has worked for more than 17 years taking care of children and the elderly, also spoke at the event, who said she was the voice of more than 2.5 million domestic workers who claim US citizenship.

“We take care of the most loved ones; however, historically we were invisible ”, said Surco, who urged Congress, especially the Democratic leadership, to provide security for immigrant workers so that they do not fear being separated from their families and their communities.

And her voice was joined by Namrata Pokharael, a native of Nepal, who traveled from the state of Texas to remember in a speech in her native language to Biden and Harris that they made a promise before the election.

“Now is the time to keep your promise. We deserve citizenship ”, claimed.