Locals rally, demand immigrant reunions
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Local residents demanded the reunification of the more than 2,000 immigrant children with their families at a rally Thursday in front of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster's office, the same day Congress shot down a proposed "conservative" immigration policy.
Indivisible of Blair County, a group dedicated to holding representatives accountable on civil rights issues and other concerns, sought public condemnation from Shuster, who was absent, of separating families and the "inhumane conditions immigrants are being put in."
The group addressed the congressman's staff and said Shuster should demand the Trump administration reunite the 2,300 children and place immigrant families in humane conditions.
Locals held signs along Penn Street asking drivers to honk horns if they oppose immigrant child separation and stated messages like "Families don't belong in cages." The signs and rally attendees drew a mix of reactions with some cars supportively honking as they passed by while other drivers yelled out argumentative comments.
George Dempsie, a Blair County resident and rally attendee, said, "I was appalled at the way that children have become political pawns. And I believe it's time to stand up for children and immigrants."
Dempsie said he was aware of the executive order Trump signed. "But the trauma that these kids have already gone through because they've been used as political pawns is unconscionable."
Indivisible group member Sandra Dangler said, "We need to get these children back to these parents first of all. And second of all, we need to completely change our immigration system."
Dangler, who has volunteered at Georgia's Stewart Detention Center, called for a comprehensive immigration law that offers work visas for immigrants, supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and provides asylum to those in need. She also suggested housing immigrants in local communities instead of placing them in detention centers.
Earlier that day, the U.S. House failed to pass the Securing America's Future Act of 2018, which proposed adding border security personnel, authorizing new ports of entry along the northern and southern borders, providing "contingent nonimmigrant status for certain aliens who entered the U.S. as minors" and eliminating a diversity visa program, among other amendments.
John Joyce, the Republican candidate for the new 13th District, criticized Shuster's vote against the immigration bill and said he would've voted yes on the bill introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte.
"The Goodlatte plan would secure our southern border by providing critical funding for a border wall, end catch and release, provide a sensible legislative solution to DACA and withhold critical federal funding from sanctuary cities," Joyce said. "Unfortunately, today was a missed opportunity."
Adam Breneman, Joyce's campaign manager, said, "Dr. Joyce disagrees with Congressman Shuster and Speaker [Paul] Ryan on this immigration bill."
Breneman added Joyce believes immigrant families should not be separated, but that the nation needs protection from illegal immigration and border security.
The Democratic nominee for the 13th District seat, Brent Ottaway, who attended the rally, said he could not comment about the failed immigration bill without reviewing it. He condemned the separation of immigrant families at Thursday's rally.
"I think the administration has gone over the line with this. There can be no policy that justifies traumatizing children," Ottaway said.
He described the "zero tolerance" policy that led to the separation of families as "heartless" and "despicable."
"When an administration takes the politics of division and hatred to these lengths, we need representatives in Congress who will take them to task and steer them back toward decency," he said.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday halting his administration's policy of separating children from their parents when detained for illegally crossing the U.S. border, after facing backlash for his "zero tolerance" policy.
The executive order states the policy will "maintain family unity, including detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources" while enforcing imprisonment or fines for improper entry of "aliens."
State Rep. John McGinnis, R-Altoona, said these immigration and family separation issues have been going on for years but have been further politicized by anti-Trump people. He added the country could do a better job at controlling its borders but is not bringing in enough legal immigrants at the same time.
"We should be more welcoming. There's a lot of people that have been waiting a long time to become American citizens," McGinnis said. "I think that's the greatest shame that's going on -- how tough it is to get into America legally and to get your citizenship."
McGinnis also added
that presidential executive orders only hold so much power and still need congressional support.