Groups urge Baker to change view on immigration
Immigrant activists secured a future sit-down with Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday after holding a rally on the State House steps and a stand-in within the governor's office lobby.
Baker's opposition to bills that would provide some legal cover for unauthorized immigrants has touched a nerve, leading a woman who fled from El Salvador this summer to call on the governor to change his position.
A lawyer in El Salvador, Marylyn Granados said she walked into Texas with her husband and two daughters, ages 14 and 3, after a gang slipped a note with a bullet attached to it under the door of their home. Granados had not planned to turn herself into the authorities, but after she was detained in Texas she is now seeking political asylum.
Standing on the steps in front of the State House, Granados criticized Baker for his recent veto threat toward legislation providing legal protections for unauthorized immigrants. Through an interpreter, Granados said if legislation preventing local police from reporting low-level offenders to federal immigration officials arrives on his desk "he should not veto it."
Baker has said local authorities should make decisions about local police policies, and during his monthly appearance on Boston Public Radio last week, he said he would veto legislation that runs contrary to that if it reached his desk.
"The people who are elected locally are most accountable to local communities and to local residents and they ought to make the call on this. We shouldn't be - this is exactly the sort of thing we should not be doing at a statewide level," Baker said.
Following the rally, Centro Presente Executive Director Patricia Montes led a group of supporters to the governor's constituent services office where she demanded the governor's staff schedule a meeting between her and Baker.
Baker was in Ohio on Wednesday bringing his daughter to college, and the group eventually settled for a meeting with Baker administration officials, but Montes said she would continue pressing for a meeting with the state's chief executive. Later Wednesday afternoon the governor's office confirmed that a tentative date has been set for the get-together with Baker. Montes said the meeting is set for Sept. 24.
Immigrant activists have other priorities beyond limiting state and local law enforcement's role in helping the federal government deport people. House Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing filed a bill that would make it state policy to help any resident receive the proper immigration papers and would limit state inquiries into immigration status. Others are pushing to provide drivers licenses to people in the country illegally or free up financial aid for students regardless of immigration status.
The main thrust of Wednesday's rally was to push the Trust Act legislation limiting police involvement with federal immigration enforcement and to call Baker to task for his opposition to it.
"The deportation machine is still active and functioning," Montes said. She said, "We're also here to let our governor know that here in Massachusetts we don't want another Donald Trump."
Trump, the Republican presidential poll leader and real estate developer, released a hardline immigration policy that calls for a wall on the southern border financed by Mexico, a tripling in immigration enforcement officers and an end to birthright citizenship. Trump's policy proposal would also mandate the federal government keep in detention or deport those caught crossing the border illegally.
A Republican determined to steer clear of national politics, Baker has broken his policy of non-involvement to decry Trump's remarks about women. Despite the clear divide Baker has established with Trump, activists' signs sought to draw a connection between the two Republicans. Montes held a sign reading, "Gov. Baker: Will you 'Trump' immigrant families?"
An immigrant from Honduras who came to the United States 11 years ago, Montes said her home country is now one of the most dangerous places on earth, blaming the Obama administration and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for supporting a coup that deposed the elected government in 2009. Montes said the U.S. bore some responsibility for the conditions around the globe that encourage people to immigrate illegally.
Justin Nguyen Phuoc said he is an undocumented immigrant, and said Baker did not speak to undocumented immigrants before forming his opinion. Nguyen Phuoc said when he was in high school driving home from a job early in the morning he was pulled over by police, making him fear that he would have to leave the country.
"I was extremely scared. I was scared of being deported," Nguyen Phuoc told the small crowd on Beacon Street.
Before the rally on the State House steps, two uniformed Boston police officers spoke with Montes and Centro Presente organizer Cesar Boc, who provided the translation of Granados's story. The officers declined to discuss their inquiry with a reporter, but said a report would be filed.
After the rally, the activists crowded into the lobby of Baker's constituent services offices. Inside the room, activists told stories of their struggles with migration, and quizzed administration personnel about their backgrounds. A man held a tiny baby in his arms and Baker staff gave out water to the activists, who thanked them at one point for their friendliness.
Baker administration director of operations Scott Conway negotiated with the group and told them he could not commit to a meeting with the governor.
Eventually the activists met with Baker Deputy Chief of Staff for cabinet relations Joel Andres Barrera, Deputy Chief of staff for Access and Opportunity Jabes Rojas, and Community Affairs Director Hodari Cail.
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