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Reporter: Diana Washington Valdez

›› Photos: Border Network for Human Rights

About 300 people from El Paso and Southern New Mexico rallied in favor of comprehensive immigration reform during a gathering with U.S. lawmakers Monday at the University of Texas at El Paso.

U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, and the Border Network for Human Rights partnered to host the gathering, following a Congressional field hearing on immigration reform at El Paso’s City Hall.

U.S. Reps. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Filemon Vela, D-Texas, joined O’Rourke for the field hearing that allowed community leaders from government, law enforcement, business, as well as immigration reform advocates to speak.

At the rally, Vela said he and O’Rourke plan to introduce legislation next week that will provide a path to U.S. citizenship within six years, and which is not conditioned on militarizing the border. Grijalva was unable to attend the rally.

Both lawmakers, who addressed the audience in Spanish, said they are opposed to immigration reform proposals that require up to 13 years to gain citizenship and separates families.

Vela said getting immigration reform passed

has been complicated by partisan politics. He represents a district that includes Brownsville.

“We have 435 representatives in the House, and we need 218 vote to pass a bill,” Vela said. “We have 202 Democrats, and need 30 to 40 Republicans who agree that immigration reform is needed.”

O’Rourke said most of the El Paso border community is opposed to immigration reform proposals that require a $46 billion expenditure to secure the border.

The money is needed for 40,000 additional Border Patrol agents, drones, extending the border wall and other equipment.

“We have said over and over that El Paso is the safest city in the country, and we will continue taking our message to our colleagues in Congress that militarization will have a negative effect on border communities,” O’Rourke said.

During the rally — Irma Cruz, Luis Romo, Claudia Diaz and Gabriela Castañeda — shared their past experiences with immigration laws and policies.

Cruz said she meets people in the community who live in the shadows and constant fear of being deported.

“We who are immigrants love America, we are part of it, and we want to continue contributing to it each day,” she said.

Romo said his family was devastated when his father, who was an undocumented immigrant, was deported to Mexico.

“I had to put my dreams on hold,” Romo said. “I thank President Barack Obama for trying to bring about immigration reform, but we can’t embrace a Dream Act that requires parents to be separated from their children.”

Romo described longtime undocumented immigrants as Americans who need a social security number.

Diaz said local police in Southern New Mexico are being used to enforce federal immigration laws.

“Some of these officers have entered homes in Chaparral, only to call immigration authorities to pick up the residents,” Diaz said.

Castañeda said she and her family entered the struggle for immigration reform 10 years ago.

“We thought we’d have it this year, but someone in Congress decided to put American values aside, and instead of immigration reform, it became security reform,” Castañeda said.

Fernando Garcia, executive director of the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights, urged the rally participants to support the O’Rourke and Vela’s proposal in Congress.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at 546-6140.