“Now!”, The cry for immigration reform in the US after 35 years of waiting

They have been waiting for immigration reform for 35 years and they can’t wait another minute. Shouting “now!”, Some 200 migrants demonstrated on Tuesday to demand that Democrats use their power to give nationality to eleven million undocumented immigrants.

Democrats have a majority in both houses of Congress and dominate the White House with Joe Biden, which is why activists believe that the time has come to approve the long-awaited reform.

“What we want? Citizenship! When do we want it? Now, now, now! ”Chanted the activists, some wrapped in American and Mexican flags, and others dressed in red Santa hats that had the phrase“ citizenship for all ”written in green.

The protest lasted almost eight hours: it began at 7:00 in the morning with the interruption of traffic in the streets surrounding the Congress, followed with a demonstration near the legislative headquarters and, later, the protesters participated in a press conference with a group of lawmakers from the left wing of the Democratic Party.

That press conference was attended by, among others, the legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of Puerto Rican origin, who, by exchanging Spanish and English, wanted to make it clear to her party that the time has come to fulfill the promises that they have been making for years to the migrants.

“This is our moment! We are here because this is our moment – the legislator cried – We have the opportunity, we have a window of opportunity right now and do not let anyone say that we do not have the power or the opportunity. The opportunity is here and now. It has not happened”.

Then Ocasio-Cortez pointed to the Senate building and explained that the future of millions of people depends on that chamber right now.

The Democratic leader in the Upper House, Chuck Schumer, wants to pass before Christmas the great social spending plan of the American president, Joe Biden, valued at $ 1.75 trillion and which includes a large number of progressive proposals on climate change, education and immigration.

Specifically, that plan called in English “Build Back Better” does not give citizenship to the eleven million undocumented, as activists want, but offers a protection known as “parole” to about 6.5 million, according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

That program would allow migrants to obtain a work permit and protect them from deportation, among other benefits.

The Lower House already approved Biden’s plan in November with that “parole” proposal, because for now there is not enough support in the Senate to carry out a law that gives nationality to the eleven million undocumented immigrants who are estimated to live in The United States, many of whom were considered essential workers during the pandemic.

“It is because of your inspiration that we are here! For your work and sacrifice during the pandemic, who put your own life at risk for all of us, “said Congressman Adriano Espaillat, of Dominican origin and in the past undocumented, supported by the protesters.

Espaillat explained that he and other Hispanic legislators have long been “loyal soldiers” of the Democratic Party, helping to pass measures on climate change or the economy, but he warned that the time has come to carry out immigration reform.

This call was joined by one of the legislators for Illinois, Jesús “Chuy” García, of Mexican origin and who urged the Democratic leadership in the Senate to be brave and include in Biden’s social plan an access to citizenship, instead of the “parole”, which many activists reject.

Congress has not passed a law for 35 years allowing millions of immigrants to access citizenship.

The last time was in 1986, when the then president, Ronald Reagan, signed a law that allowed the regularization of three million undocumented immigrants.