Immigration advocates gathered at the Iowa Statehouse this afternoon to voice their concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration operations during the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice’s annual “Advocacy Day” on Wednesday.Chants of “Say it proud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here” echoed through the Statehouse rotunda as the organization hosted several keynote speakers. Many speakers were Iowans who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age or came to the U.S. seeking education.”I would say I am a privileged immigrant,” Rev. Lilian Gallo Seagren said. “I was not running away from violence. I was not running away from poverty. I came here as a university student.””And I have flourished here,” Gallo continued, “because I have neighbors and members of the church who made it their sacred duty to protect and help me flourish.”The organization also pushed for expanded resources to help immigrant families feel safe and resources to help expand learning opportunities for immigrants.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Immigration advocates gathered at the Iowa Statehouse this afternoon to voice their concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration operations during the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice’s annual “Advocacy Day” on Wednesday.
Chants of “Say it proud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here” echoed through the Statehouse rotunda as the organization hosted several keynote speakers. Many speakers were Iowans who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age or came to the U.S. seeking education.
“I would say I am a privileged immigrant,” Rev. Lilian Gallo Seagren said. “I was not running away from violence. I was not running away from poverty. I came here as a university student.”
“And I have flourished here,” Gallo continued, “because I have neighbors and members of the church who made it their sacred duty to protect and help me flourish.”
The organization also pushed for expanded resources to help immigrant families feel safe and resources to help expand learning opportunities for immigrants.