The four students from Florida — Felipe Matos, Gaby Pacheco, Carlos Roa and Juan Rodriguez — are walking 1,500 miles from Miami, Fl. to Washington, D.C., in a five-month campaign named “Trail of Dreams” to raise attention about the current immigrant condition and to pressure President Barack Obama and Congress to take up comprehensive immigration reform.
The students were not detained by the sheriff’s office. If the students had been arrested, they could have faced deportation.
Conway has been a vocal proponent of “287(G),” a federal prevision authorizing local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. The Trail of Dreams says that this policy has resulted in the deportation of hundreds of immigrants from Gwinnett County in just the past three months — policies that the student walkers say are oppressive and discriminatory.
“We’re not scared of Sheriff Conway,” said Rodriquez, 20, in a March 2 press release. “Local enforcement of federal policies like the one Sheriff Conway is proudly implementing are proof of the need for real immigration reform. These policies have the long-term effect of criminalizing immigrants — the vast majority of whom are here only to work hard and provide for their families.”
For more information, read "Walking the Dream" Immigrant College Students Push for Reform" published Jan. 29 in The Indypendent and visit trail2010.org.
PHOTO: Four immigrant college students are trekking 1,500 miles in a five-month campaign from Miami to Washington, D.C., to rally in support of “education, not deportation” for undocumented youth and their families. COURTESY: EVA GRAY
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Comments
Thanks for the update Jessica!
Thank you for your coverage of the "walkers." However, as tense as things are and with the bold steps that they are taking I felt that the wording of " demanded to speak with Sheriff R.L. “Butch” Conway" was not accurate. According to what I had received, the meeting had been planned.My concern is that your wording made it sound more of a confrontation, rather than a meeting. From what I understood from the students, they wanted to meet with both their allies and opponents to have dialogues not confrontations. Therefore, i was surprised by the wording that they "demanded." i just feel that this can be harmful to their image and what I assumed they were trying to accomplish.
On March 3rd I was in the immigration court in Charlotte, NC. There were a couple of cases that made judge raise eyebrows and look at the Department of Home Security (DHS) prosecutor. The DHS is trying to deport a 9 year old boy; husband of pregnant US citizen teacher; mother, daughter and wife of US citizen.
Something needs to be done. Our tax money are going to prosecute this cases when people on the plane have to fight for their lives with an assassin, who got visa from DHS. That makes me feel very safe.
The best thing the Gwinnett county sheriff could have done was walk the dog the entire time the students were at the courthouse. They are four in-your-face cultural and political radicals only demanding more for themselves. It the federal government fault for not controlling who comes in to this country that we have to put up with this kind of crap.
Demanding more for themselves? did you even read the article?
The thing that bothers me is when Americans' say indignantly "Well if they want to come here they need to do it legally". Fine, when Americans' board the planes for their luxurious vacations all over Mexico, we fill out the application on the plane and present it at Immigration when we arrive at the airport in Mexico. Simple! Even a caveman can do it!!
To enter the US on a visa, you are required to make an appointment at the Consulate, wait in long lines, fill out endless forms, provide endless documentation, prove you have sufficient financial worth and then, if they decide you are worthy, you might get a Visa. Most likely you will be turned down. And by the way, America, a visa is not a Green Card or a Naturalization for Citizenship, it is just a document that allows you a certain number of days to visit. Am I the only one who sees a HUGE contridiction here?
This Sheriff has said no one would be subject to deportation by his department unless they committed a crime in Gwinnett County. You have not confronted or called his bluff until you
thumb your nose at him by driving without a license or committing any other crime against
the laws of the State of Georgia. I would be willing to bet you would find yourself back in your
birth country if you do. You have managed to make the citizens of this country and this county
very angry by your immature posturing and lack of truthfulness. You did not encounter a Klan
rally, you went well out of your way to attend it. This takes away from your credibility.
..And why does the Klan even exist in 2010??? One would think this country had progressed beyond such "hate" and oppression. These young people were most courageous to look those in the eye who would like to dismiss them as worthless bags of bones. Until you sit down, converse, and learn the true heart and motivation of these young people, do not be so quick to judge. You might just change your mind. I did.
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