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Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Front Page

More than 4,000 supporters rally against H.R. 4437 house bill April 10 at Steven's Park. H.R. 4437 house bill states illegal immigrants and those who accommodate them are subject to felonious charges.

A rally to stop the House of Representatives Bill H.R. 4437 from becoming law, was the talk around town during the weekend. On Monday, April 10, Stevens Park became a refuge for thousands of immigrant protestors to come and speak their minds.

Garden City wasn't alone in immigration reform. Dodge City, and Lawrence were also a few of the towns involved in rallying against H.R.4437.

H.R. 4437, passed in December by the U.S. House of Representatives, was stalled Friday, April 7 by the U.S. Senate, on another proposal calling for increased border security along with a guest worker program.

The proposed House Bill would make an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants including their children, felons in the U.S., resulting in possible prosecution and deportation. The bill also states, anyone providing assistance to or hiring any unauthorized immigrant workers will be classified as felons.

"The lack of worker rights harms all workers, not just immigrants," Carlos Pantoja, United Steelworkers representative, said. "The harsh enforcement measures would create the last thing we need: a two-tiered society."

The rally was not only filled with many local residents from towns spreading across southwest Kansas, but a good majority came from local students as well.

A group of students from Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center attended the rally to support the community as well as express their feelings and opinions. "Our parents had to call to get us excused from class to attend the rally," Raymond Gonzales said, "This bill affects the children as well as the adults, if illegal immigrants are sent back what is going to happen to the kids that were born in the U.S.

"Nobody thinks 11 million immigrants affect anything," Gabriel Garcia, Garden City, said. "If [the boycott] happens, it would show what economical impact it would have."

One concern was the possibility of a huge student-walkout like the ones seen in California.

"Mr. Robinson was very concerned about a walkout occurring," Garcia said. "He wanted to make sure that students were safe."

Continued...

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