© 2024 KVPR | Valley Public Radio - White Ash Broadcasting, Inc. :: 89.3 Fresno / 89.1 Bakersfield
89.3 Fresno | 89.1 Bakersfield
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
76 new monthly members to go to reach our March goal! Start a new monthly gift today, or increase your existing monthly donation to help us reach the goal.

Launching 11-Day Action, Advocates Urge McCarthy To Pass Immigration Reform

More than a dozen immigrants and advocates gathered outside of Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s office in Bakersfield this morning and called on him to support comprehensive immigration reform. The event marked the start of an 11-day push for immigration reform, in honor of the estimated 11 million undocumented people in the country.

“We want our congressional representative to pass comprehensive immigration reform, with a path to citizenship, now!” said Camila Chavez, executive director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation

Chavez was among those calling on the Majority Whip to schedule a vote on the issue. Advocates are ramping up the pressure on McCarthy, because they say he has the power to move immigration reform through the House of Representatives.

“We demand a vote on citizenship now, and for the next 11 days we are going to be in your district registering voters, talking to voters about where you stand, we’re going to be praying and fasting, and more importantly, we’re going to be acting,” said Arnulfo de la Cruz, California director of Mi Familia Vota.

During this morning’s event, advocates left huge rubber ducks outside of McCarthy’s office doors, which were closed. They encouraged him not to “duck and hide” from an immigration vote. He did not address the group during the event.

Advocates say they will continue to gather outside his office daily, until December 13, the last day Congress is in session.

This latest movement follows a full-day protest and sit-in, in support of immigration reform, that was staged at McCarthy’s office last month. Advocates say they’ve held about 50 events in support of immigration reform in his district this year. Their effort comes as leaders gather and fast in Washington, D.C. to call attention to the issue.

Rebecca Plevin was a reporter for Valley Public Radio from 2013-2014. Before joining the station, she was the community health reporter for Vida en el Valle, the McClatchy Company's bilingual newspaper in California's San Joaquin Valley. She earned the George F. Gruner Award for Meritorious Public Service in Journalism and the McClatchy President's Award for her work at Vida, as well as honors from the National Association of Hispanic Publications and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Plevin grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker, a certified yoga teacher, and an avid rock-climber.
Related Content