“Immigrants are here to make America run. We’re in the fields. We’re in the kitchens. We are in the office. We are everywhere,” said Maria Hernandez Palomo.
SAN ANTONIO — As the Trump administration continues it’s hardline stance on immigration, including deportations, there has been some push back from the community.
The community is calling for unity, and using their first amendment rights to speak out against new immigration policies.
Saturday afternoon, about 100 people attended a rally, protest and march held downtown at Milam Park.
The League of United Latin American Citizens or LULAC hosted the event. Many spoke out against actions taken by President Trump, dealing with immigration and deportations.
“We are very much against what they’re doing, and they overreaching their hand, and really trampling over our rights, our constitutional rights,” said Henry Rodriguez, Executive Director of LULAC Concilio Zapatista.
Rodriguez says many in the community are living in fear.
“They are they don’t feel safe in their own home, and that’s not right. Even the kids, the ones that walked out down there are saying, I fear that one of these days, I’ll go home and my parents are gone,” said Rodriguez.
The protest included several guest speakers and members of the community like Maria Hernandez Palomo, a DACA recipent.
“We feel the tension, you know, and we’ve been undermined, insulted,” said Hernandez-Palomo.
Hernandez-Palomo says she came out to raise her voice and make it heard, putting a face to all immigrants and dispelling the label of immigrants as criminals.
“Immigrants are here to make America run. You know, we’re in the fields. We’re in the kitchens. We are in the office. We’re everywhere,” said Hernandez-Palomo.
Hernandez-Palomo says she knows of people skipping work because they fear deportation.
“I understand the feeling of being stopped by Border Patrol, being asked to step down, being asked a bunch of questions, getting fingerprinted on the spot,” said Herandez-Palomo. “It’s time for all Latinos to come together. People united will not be defeated.”
Rodriguez says he has no problem with criminals being deported, and anticipates things getting worse for immigrants under Trump’s presidency.
Rodriguez is calling on the community to get informed, adding he can’t stand by and watch this happen. Rodriguez says no one should be in fear of their own government, who should be there to protect us.
“We want our rights to be respected, so we’re here to do that,” said Rodriguez.