Immigrant rights activists who are marching 230 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C. to call attention to the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments around the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program reached their halfway point this past weekend, stopping in Philadelphia for a chance to rest tired feet and to rally with supporters.
City Council member Helen Gym and supporters welcomed the nearly three dozen marchers at city hall on Friday, where she called Philadelphia “a proud sanctuary city, established by immigrants,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Among the marchers is Glo Choi, who traveled from Chicago to New York City to participate in this march defending not just DACA recipients, but also Temporary Protected Status holders and all undocumented families.
“I’m undocumented,” Choi said. “But now I’m also unafraid. Home is not just where you’re from. Home is where you are. And where you want to be.”
Make The Road New York, one of the groups leading the march along with organizations like NAKASEC, CASA, CHIRLA, and other leading advocates, tweeted that marchers take short breaks every three miles of their walk “to check-in with each other, grab snacks to keep them going, and continue to build community.”
Along the way, these marchers have been greeted by bystanders with both waves and supplies to assist them in their journey. “The American people support us, and they’re showing us their love,” said Carolina Fung Feng, one of the plaintiffs in the DACA litigation. And it’s true: According to some polling, nearly 90% of Americans want young undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship.
From Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a group of mothers with children protected by DACA laid out just how much is at stake in the Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected to come some time in the first half of 2020.
“I am marching because my son has DACA,” said Silvia Garcia. “DACA is important because my son can go to school. He was able to get his driver’s license, and he can continue being somebody in this country.” Another mom, Hee G. Kim, said “I march for my daughter and every undocumented person. These young people grew up here … their home is here. Why are you trying to drive them away?”
It must be always be repeated that in the end, what all these families need are permanent protections, like the Dream and Promise Act, which has already been passed by the Democratically-led House but is being blocked by Mitch McConnell in the Senate. Right now, these protections must stay in place until that legislation can become law.
“These court cases will determine the futures of one million undocumented immigrants,” says the Home Is Here site. “To build national support and call attention to this issue, we are mobilizing a MARCH to defend DACA and TPS and demand that the courts rule on the right side of history … we are marching because Home Is Here.” Click here to learn more about the march, routes, and how you can help support these marchers.