Days before Mother’s Day the children of those who have claimed sanctuary in Colorado spoke outside of the Colorado Capitol on Tuesday to say that they want their mothers home.
Jointly their mothers have created what they have called “The People’s Resolution” that calls on Colorado lawmakers and Colorado Governor Hickenlooper to endorse steps that seeks to raise the issue of family unity and humanity. The call also is for lawmakers to address the most harmful impacts of current immigration policies.
The steps include:
- Create a path for all Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action Against Childhood Arrivals (DACA) holders to legal permanent residency and beyond.
- Maintain our commitment to human rights by protection asylum seekers.
- Restore paths to citizenship by giving back to judges the discretion to consider personal character by repealing IIRIRA. [Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996]
- Create a transparent and timely path, fulfilling our promise to families by eliminating quotas that mean decades of waiting for millions of parents and their children.
One of those children was the 9-year old child of Ingrid Encalada Latorre, Bryant who has taken sanctuary in Boulder and who told those on the west steps of the Capitol what he wanted for Mother’s Day, “I don’t want my mom to be deported from here and I don’t want her living in sanctuary anymore. I don’t want her alone anymore when the rest of us are outside doing things. I don’t want my mom to be deported because I’ll miss her. Other kids don’t get to deport their mom. I don’t want any mothers to be deported.”
One of those other mothers is Encalada Latorre originally from Peru, who was ordered to be deported after several judicial attempts, and a pardon request to Governor Hickenlooper which all failed. She took sanctuary in Fort Collins in October 2017, but moved to Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder two months later to be closer to her family and friends.
Three others have claimed sanctuary in Colorado: Rosa Sabido who claimed sanctuary in Durango, Colorado in June 2017, Araceli Vasquez originally of El Salvador now in sanctuary in Denver, and Sandra Lopez who is in sanctuary in Carbondale, Colorado.
Those who support those in sanctuary and a path toward “fair” immigration laws entered into the Capitol on Tuesday to persuade lawmakers to especially address issues of civil rights and upholding the Constitution’s requirement for a judicial warrant before receiving information about an individual or before detaining a person, equal access to the justice system, especially on the part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Advocates and lobbyists reported that Representative Jonathan Singer indicated a support for the Resolution, and Representative Mike Foote indicated that he also would support.
The event was also organized by the American Friends Service Committee of Colorado.
