Vigil For Immigrant Justice Wednesday in Framingham

The public is invited to attend a vigil Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in front of Framingham Town Hall for immigrant justice.

Immigrant parents and students as well as community allies, such as La Voz de la Comunidad leader Nelson Hernandez, WSRO General Manager Ilma Paixão, and Fuller Middle teacher Rosaura Quirarte-­Perez, will share testimonies to join the national demand for immigration relief and outcry against recent immigration raids, according to a press release.

The vigil is a timely response to anti­-immigrant sentiment in this year’s presidential race by candidates and political maneuvers such as recent immigration raids and stalling Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DACA/DAPA).

On Jan. 19, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will rule on DACA/DAPA before the 2016 presidential election.

According to the Center for American Progress, the original DACA program announced in June 2012 and the expanded DACA and the new DAPA program announced in February 2015 would allow approximately 5 million undocumented immigrants, including 65,000 Massachusetts families, the opportunity to apply for temporary protection from deportation and a work permit.

Immigrant students and parents in Framingham are waiting for the Supreme Court decision to live their lives in town, go to school and work, and take care of their families without fear of deportation, said a press release from La Voz de la Comunidad.

Many of Framingham’s newcomer children will feel relief knowing their parents will be home when they return home from school, said the press release.

Several parent members of La Voz de la Comunidad will qualify for the DAPA program when implemented.

Laura Lopez, a leader of La Voz and mother of three Framingham students, said “We know we will be cold. But that’s the point of the vigil­ to show our dedication and sacrifice. It’s important we are united in Framingham. Together we call on the President to stop the deportations and to show our support for DACA and DAPA.”

Essex County Community Organization will organize a protest at the I.C.E. New England regional office in Burlington, Wednesday the 17 at 3:30 p.m. to call for an end to the deportations.

La Voz de la Comunidad is a volunteer membership-­based group of immigrant parents, family and community members dedicated to supporting children and building our voice in the schools and in Framingham. The organization’s priorities are outreach, organizing, and advocacy around immigrant rights and education.