A Nation of No Immigrants


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of immigrants stayed home from work, boycotted businesses and marched through U.S. cities on Monday, urging Congress to create a way for them to work legally and become citizens.

Police in Chicago said about 300,000 people joined a demonstration there, one of several massive rallies across the nation to demand rights for an estimated 11.5-12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Police in Los Angeles were bracing for up to a million people in two marches there. Other large rallies took place in Houston, Denver and many other cities. Thousands also marched in Mexico in solidarity with their U.S.-based compatriots.Reports from around the country suggested many immigrants were staying away from work, despite a mixed message from immigrant-rights organizations, some of which opposed the one-day strike.

In New York City, demonstrators formed "human chains" at several points around the city. Hundreds, including school children, lined up in Queens, stretching for three blocks on both sides of the street waving U.S. and Latin American flags and banners saying, "We are Americans" and "Full Rights for All Immigrants."

We are all losers if we continue to play this sinister game of condemning a segment of the population to live and work in the conditions of modern-day slaves," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of the Latino Movement USA.

The House passed a get-tough bill last December that would reclassify illegal immigrants as felons, punish those who help them and build a fence along much of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Chicago teacher Francisco Palomo, 46, said he had skipped work to protest against the House bill, which could penalize anyone who extended help to an illegal immigrant. "I don't want to be criminalized. If I help out some guys, if I give some lodging, that's a felony?" he said.