Dozens of immigrants who live in Mississippi and advocates with the non-profit organization Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity are marching around the State Capitol building in Jackson demanding President Joe Biden and Congress pass immigration reform. They are demanding that the President follow through on campaign promises that they say have not yet been fulfilled. This includes protections for immigrant workers, citizenship for all, and protections for those who are detained in ICE camps.
Efren Nunez, Field Director of Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity, led the march.
Nunez says “This is forever. For decades, different presidents would say they are going to do something about the immigration situation in this country but it’s not happened. And right now, we have this opportunity. We are at the closest time to get this to happen.”
Around two percent of all Mississippians are immigrants, and another two percent have at least one immigrant parent. Lorena Quiroz, Executive Director of IAJE, says those immigrants are often the state’s essential workers and are a large economic driver.
Quiroz says “We need immigration reform. There’s 11,000,000 of us that need papers. We as a community really help build up the economic fabric. Especially here as we learn now how many of us are in central Mississippi.”
Protesters began the rally by visiting the ICE offices in Pearl and arrived outside the Capitol honking their car horns. Some participants brought their children, and say they want to have their children understand what they are trying to accomplish.
