Second march held to “Free our children now!”
Protestor shows her displeasure with Trump’s immigration policies.
June 19, 2018
In a sea of signs and chants aimed at the protection of immigrant children, more than a 1,000 people attended the March for Immigrant Rights and Against Family Separation, on Tuesday, June 19.
The march started at Edgemere Linear Park and ended at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement El Paso Processing Center at 8915 Montana Ave. Protesters braved the heat and marched in full unison chanting “free our children now,” as they made their way to fight for families who have lost their children as soon as they crossed the border. The Border Network for Human Rights orchestrated this event just two days after U.S. Rep. Beto O’ Rourke led his own March at Tornillo, Texas.
Thousands of protesters march outside the ICE detention facility on Tuesday, June 19.
A girl protests with her sign for immigrants’ rights and against family separation on June 19.
Families come together to show their support fot the immigrant parents that have been separated from their children, on June 19.
Thousands of people attended the march for immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Thousands of protestors march for immigration rights and against the separation of families on Tuesday, June 19.
Thousands of protesters show their displeasure with the Trump administration, on Tuesday, June 19.
Thousands of protestors came out to support the March for Immigrants’ rights and against the separation of families, on Tuesday, June 19.
A protestor’s sign that displays the displeasure Americans have with the Trump administration, on Tuesday, June 19.
Gabriela Castañeda, the communications director for Border Network for Human Rights, leads the rally in front of the ICE detention facility, on Tuesday, June 19.
Elise Stuart and her friends from Silver City, NM, came to show their support against the separation of families, on Tuesday, June 19.
Thousands of protestors came out for the March for Immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19.
A protestor displays her sign against the tent city in Tornillo, Texas, where they are only housing immigrant boys.
Protesters show their displeasure with Border Patrol agents as they record the protest for documentation.
Thousands of protesters march outside the ICE detention facility on Tuesday, June 19.
Fernando Garcia, executive director for the Border Network for Human Rights, speaks at the March for Immigration Rights and Against Family Separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Thousands of people attended the march for immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Thousands of people attended the march for immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Thousands of people attended the march for immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Dreamers lead the March for Immigration Rights and Against Family Separation held by the Border Network for Human Rights on Tuesday, June 19, at Edgemere Linear Park.
Thousands of people attended the march for immigration rights and against family separation on Tuesday, June 19 at Edgemere Linear Park.
Fernando Garcia, executive director of Border Network for Human Rights, led the march alongside activist groups from New Mexico and Texas.
“Our aim is to not only pass legislation in a month from now, our aim is to stop incarceration of children now, today,” Garcia said. “I don’t know how can they justify having children in tent cities in the middle of the desert away from their parents.”
The Trump administration has claimed that only Congress can end the family separation policy. This policy is due to Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy that was enforced on immigrants. But numerous lawmakers, including members from the Republican Party, have stated that the president can halt the separation of families immediately if he chooses.
Jean Almanzan, a retired educator in Texas and New Mexico, marched today because of what he feels is a racist agenda put forth by the Trump administration.
“The Republican Party, especially the ones (up for re-election) in November, are starting to realize that this is not going to help them. This is something horrible for the party,” Almanzan said. “So now they’re beginning to speak up. But it’s not fast enough. Saying one thing and doing another are two different things.”
Elise Stuart, 65, a poet and piano teacher, drove down with a group of friends from Silver City, New Mexico, to join the protest against the detention centers. Stuart was looking for ways to help online when she stumbled upon the march. Immediately Stuart and her friends made plans for the three-hour drive to El Paso.
“It’s just so inhumane and cruel to these children and these mothers, to separate them like this,” Stuart said. “It’s an all-time low for this country to even engage in this type of practice. “
There were no counter protesters present.
As of now, President Trump will meet on Capitol Hill Tuesday night to discuss legislation with GOP lawmakers. There are two purposed bills on the House floor. The White House claims President Trump will sign either bill on Friday. Between the two different bills, one allows a compromise between the parties that allows DACA recipients access to a green card and legalization, while the other bill favors Trump’s border wall.
