April 26, 2010
Four illegal immigrants are walking from Florida to Washington D.C. Monday night to protest American immigration policy. They say they are willing to lose their own freedom for their cause.
The walk started on January 1. In this tight-knit group, walking stride for stride, is one of the community's top college students. Another person has three degrees under her belt and a third person is an aspiring architect. But all of them are desperately missing something.
"The only thing that's missing is the paper that acknowledges me as one who can actually contribute even more," said Felipe Matos, who is part of the Trail of Dreams.
They are undocumented, illegal and willing to risk arrest and deportation in their walk from Miami to D.C. as part of what they call their "Trail of Dreams".
"In every city and every town we've had the opportunity to change the hearts and minds of legislators of the regular everyday folk in America as well," stated Gabby Pacheco, who is also a student on the walk.
Matos shared, "We're just afraid that one of the states are gonna come and deport us"
They're asking Congress to stop student deportations for two years. On their official website they write:
"We demand that President Obama institute an executive action that will stop detentions and deportations of students for a period of two years, and halt removal proceedings for individuals with immediate family members who are U.S. citizens.'
That's a tall order, especially in light of what has just happened in Arizona. There, a bill was signed into law giving police more authority to identify and deport illegals after increased violence there along the border.
These students believe that despite the bad weather, the blisters, and the 15 miles a day that each step will be what they bring what they call their country in the right direction.
The 1500-mile trip will end on Saturday in downtown D.C. at Lafayette Park right across from the White House. A rally and a protest will be held where they expect some arrests.
http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0410/729839.html
