Hourly Update

Southern Arizona immigrants take old message to new Congress

The message a group of Southern Arizona immigrants plan to deliver during their trip next week to Washington D.C. won't be anything Congress hasn't heard before but organizers are confident it will have a more profound impact than the two previous trips. That's because they'll be greeted this time by a Democrat-controlled Congress that some pundits believe will pass immigration reform that includes a guest worker program, a path to legalization for some of the estimated 10-12 million here illegally and less border enforcement measures. "We are much more optimistic than we have ever been in the past," said Jennifer Allen, of Border Action Network, a Tucson-based immigrants' rights group. "The conditions for once are on our side." Eleven immigrants from Tucson, Douglas and Sahuarita will be flying to Washington D.C. next where they'll meet up with a total of 500 immigrants from across the country. From March 13-15, they'll meet in groups with staff members from dozens of legislative offices and hopefully with some of the legislators themselves. They'll focus on persuading legislators that responsible immigration reform must include a path to legalization for illegal immigrants, more visas for future immigrant workers and border enforcement measures that take into account residents of border communities. "The border has been discussed and reframed as if border communities are pawns to be moved around or don't even exist," Allen said. "It's to put a face on immigration and put a face on the border." Six members of the delegation are from Tucson including Alfredo Doniz, president of the Paleteros Union of Tucson and 19-year resident of Tucson who renews his work visa every year in hopes of getting legal permanent residency; Daniel Perez, a restaurant owner and 20-year resident of Tucson who is a legal permanent resident; and Carmen Preciado, a six-year resident of Tucson who has her own cleaning business. They'll take stories of life near the border to help legislators understand the situation and propose solutions they feel are necessary. In addition to meeting with congressional staffers, they will participate in a press conference, a Congressional briefing and a vigil. "We want to be heard and make an impact," Doniz said.