ILLINOIS LATINO VOTERS WILL BE THE VOICE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
Chicago, IL– Earlier today, Dreamers and Allies gathered at the Rebano Church in Chicago, Illinois. Pastor Santiago, an Evangelical preacher, opened talking about how Chicago is a welcoming city in a welcoming state, and drew stark contrasts with Alabama and Arizona. He then spoke about how Republicans were using religion when it was convenient, such as stirring up the base on abortion, but ignore Jesus when they craft immigration policy. He then talked about how Jesus himself had no borders, and that politicians shouldn’t cloak themselves in Christian rhetoric while ignoring his message on families.
Finally, he talked about how both Evangelical groups and the Church of Latter Day Saints supported the DREAM Act, and that there should be a pushback from these communities on this issue. Pastor Santiago announced that they would stand by undocumented immigrants and against the GOP presidential candidates who are attacking immigrant communities.
Another evangelical pastor took the podium, and spoke about how he was currently in deportation proceedings. Evidently he had committed a crime 20 years ago at the age of 16, admitted that it was a mistake, and had gone to jail briefly. After visiting Columbia last year, upon his return, they tore up his green card, citing his 20 year old crime, and began deportation proceedings against him, much to his congregations chagrin.
Fanny Lopez-Martinez took the podium next. Fanny, who is now working toward a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Chicago, is also an undocumented immigrant married to an Army veteran who had just returned from Afghanistan. She spoke about how worrisome it was knowing that anytime she would be placed into deportation proceedings. Her husband, David Martinez, stated that it multiplied his anxiety while abroad, not knowing how much of his family he’d be able to come back to. She talked about how she worked hard to support him, and how there were other undocumented military families who were struggling in the same way unnecessarily.
Finally, Fanny’s husband, David, spoke for his wife. With a clear message to the GOP presidential candidates, specially Governor Mitt Romney, David proudly stated that although his wife cannot vote, her voice is his vote. He would be voting against those who advocate breaking families apart.
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