A protester stands outside the McNamera Building.

DETROIT — On Saturday, June 28, Michigan United held a spirited rally at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Ave., calling on President Obama to halt deportations. The event, which featured faith leaders and immigrant families threatened by the broken immigration system, marked the one-year anniversary of the Senate’s historic, bi-partisan immigration reform. 

 “A year of House Speaker Boehner’s blockage of immigration reform and two million deportations from President Obama’s immigration authorities is too much injustice for us to tolerate,” said Raquel Garcia Anderson of Michigan United.  “The president needs to step up and use his power to keep mothers and fathers with their children and to keep spouses together. He needs to stop deportations until we can fix the broken immigration system.” 

Mario Hernandez, an immigrant who spoke at the rally, faces deportation. He spoke about the personal and financial cost he may be forced to pay if he gets deported. He is a small business owner and the father of two.  He said he was worried about being separated from his daughters.

 “I may be forced to leave my business, which is bad enough, but being forced to leave my daughters is the real tragedy,” he said. “I have worked hard to fulfill my dream, which is the American dream. Who benefits from me losing my business and my family?  This makes no sense. President Obama must stop people from being torn away from their loved ones, stop the deportations.” 

The Detroit immigration reform rally was part of a statewide contribution to a national day of action held in dozens of cities around the country. Similar events in Michigan took place in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo.