SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Immigrant rights advocates will hold marches and rallies in San Diego and around the country Saturday.
The marchers in the "National Day of Action for Dignity & Respect" will protest what they believe are tactics designed to delay immigration legislation that would lead to citizenship for people in the United States illegally.
The San Diego march is scheduled for 10 a.m., beginning at Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street, and will continue to the County Administration Building at 1600 Pacific Highway, where a rally will take place.
The local event, led by the San Diego Organizing Project and area labor unions, is one of 19 scheduled in California, with around 130 set to take place in the United States, according to the organizers. Participants also hope to sign up new voters.
Earlier this week, House Democrats unveiled immigration legislation that is similar to a bill passed by the Senate in June, but does not fund construction of 700 miles of fencing at the Mexican border. Instead, it offers goals for border security.
Both bills grant legal status to undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Pedro Rios, acting chairman of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, said the House bill was unveiled soon after a visit to Washington, D.C., by San Diego law enforcement, faith and business leaders.
"It appears that members of Congress are beginning to pay attention," Rios said.
He described the border enforcement provisions of the Senate bill as "excessive measures that will unnecessarily punish border communities."
It is "a strong signal" that House Democrats dropped the security elements of the measure, Rios said.
