NEW YORK (AP) — Immigration reform activists say they’re tired of waiting for Congress to act and hundreds of them have been protesting outside a federal building in New York City.
The demonstrators, chanting and carrying signs, circled 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan today.
The protesters say deportations are breaking up families and children are losing their parents.
On a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border today, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she holds little hope that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this year. She had been to a Border Patrol facility in Brownsville, Texas where unaccompanied children are being held.
More than 52,000 unaccompanied children, most from Central America, have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally since October.
177-w-34-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Steve Choi, executive director, New York Immigration Coalition)–Hundreds rally in lower Manhattan for Congress and the president to pass comprehensive immigration reform and to stop deportations that separate families. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (28 Jun 2014)
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178-a-09-(Steve Choi (Choy), executive director, New York Immigration Coalition, in AP interview)-“the upcoming elections”-Steve Choi, with the New York Immigration Coalition, says Congress and the president are not doing enough to pass reform, so they plan to step up their campaign to get new laws passed. (28 Jun 2014)
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179-a-10-(Ali Najmi (NAHJ’-mee), demonstrator, in AP interview)-“American families together”-Demonstrator Ali Najmi says immigration reform is needed immediately to halt the deportation that separates families. (28 Jun 2014)
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180-a-16-(Luis Feliz (loo-EES’ feh-LEEZ’), demonstrator, in AP interview)-“of our society”-Demonstrator Luis Feliz says the U.S. needs comprehensive immigration reform to allow those who’ve been contributing to stay in the country legally. (28 Jun 2014)
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181-r-30-(Sound of demonstrators, demanding immigration reform)–Sound of demonstrators, demanding immigration reform at a rally and march in lower Manhattan. (28 Jun 2014)
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