DREAMers rally draws hundreds to San Jacinto Plaza

A Dreamers rally in downtown El Paso drew hundreds of people Sunday.

Congressman Beto O’Rourke hosted the rally in San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso.

This comes as the President-elect Donald Trump has promised to “immediately terminate” President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration to include deportation protection granted to Dreamers, a group of young people brought to this country as children and who have registered with the government while they pursue their studies, serves in the military and continue to contribute to this country. O’Rourke says the president-elect’s promise has put El Paso at the center of a national debate when it comes to immigration policy.

O’Rourke was joined by community, faith and civic leaders to share Dreamers stories and to discuss policy ideas.

Sunday, numerous dreamers took the stage to share their stories.

“They were just looking for an opportunity to have a better life here,” Daisy Arvizu said. She said her family brought her across the border when she was only 1 years old.

“My single mother and I were left homeless with no other choice but to come here,” dreamer David Gamez said.

Congressman O’rourke said he’s pushing for legislation that will support dreamers this legislative session. One bill would allow dreamers to stay in the country, no matter what the president decides. The second would protect the personal information of dreamers, so that the federal government doesn’t use it against them.

“It would be terrible if our federal government turned around and used that information to deport them,” O’rourke said.