On Day Eight, Massachusetts Immigrant Rights Vigil Still Going 24/7

Lately, it's been crowded in the Massachusetts State House. Children, afraid of losing their parents to a broken system they're too young to understand, gather in the offices of legislators. Fifty to sixty immigrant families, faith leaders, and human rights activists hold hands and bow heads in prayer in the lobby. Outside, poetry slams take place and press conferences are held.

Above all, stories are shared. Vinny, a member of Student Immigrant Movement, and a DREAMer who was brought to this country at a young age, describes what it's like currently going through the deportation process while paying out-of-state tuition to attend community college. A 10-year-old just had her father deported to Guatemala. Their personal tales are met with solidarity: More than 28 groups are sponsoring the ongoing vigil, including delegations such as the Chinese Progressive Association and a group from far-away New Bedford that represents Quiche/Mayan/Guatemalan workers.

The 24/7 vigil is on day 8 (night 7) and will go on until at least Wednesday, when the conference committee will vote on amendments known as “Redraft of Governor's 122.”   The proposed additions to the Massachusetts budget are a series of anti-immigrant measures that would block undocumented heads of household from access to state-subsidized housing, require all employees with fewer than 500 workers to use the federal E-Verify system, and limit motor vehicle registration to people with a valid license and increase penalties for driving without a license.

These measures are problematic for several reasons: E-Verify has proven costly and ineffective. It frequently misidentifies Latino and new American citizens with common last names as undocumented and fails to identify 50 percent of undocumented workers as unauthorized. Furthermore, opponents argue that its implementation drives work further off-the-books. In stating their opposition to these amendments, the Student Immigrant Movement writes that they will “deny safe and affordable housing to children and families [and] require undocumented people to choose between breaking the law and being able to access work and school.”

Support the families, students, faith leaders, civil rights lawyers, business leaders, and human rights activists currently participating in the vigil by signing this petition calling on Massachusetts legislators to reject anti-immigrant measures.

And if you want to get more involved, here are some other ways, via MassHop2011.

Photo Credit: Student Immigrant Movement