Lawmakers bringing immigration tour to South Florida
HOMESTEAD (AP) – Parents living in the U.S. illegally should be punished, but separating them from their U.S.-born children is not the answer, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said Sunday during a gathering of more than 1,000 people at a pro-immigrant rally.
Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, was one of four U.S. representatives to speak in Homestead. The farm community is part of a 17-city tour advocating comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship for those in the U.S. illegally.
“We have to recognize and deal with (their violation) but in a just way. Separating and leaving U.S. citizens without their parents is not the best solution. We need reasonable consequences,” Diaz-Balart said.
Religious and social groups organized the gathering Sunday. A similar event took place Saturday in Orlando.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat from Illinois, has traveled across the country on the tour. He said he hopes the events will”hold the president’s feet to the fire” and remind the administration that many who voted for Barack Obama want immigration reform.
Gutierrez said he had heard stories before of parents being deported while their children remained in the U.S. But since he began the tour, he has heard stories of U.S. citizens whose children were deported because they turned 18 before their parents could petition for them.
“I’ve learned that whatever damage I thought our broken system was causing families, it is a lot worse,” he said.
About half a dozen protesters waved signs on the outskirts of the crowd. They said those who break U.S law by entering or remaining in the country illegally should not be rewarded with residency.