Children Rally for Immigration Reform

Organizers say an estimated 100,000 children have lost parents to deportations

About 400 people, mostly children, converged on Chicago's Millennium Park on Tuesday afternoon to unify their voices in support of immigration reform.

"I, myself, have undocumented parents and I want to fight for them. Not only them but all the families that are affected by this," said Norma Herrera.

The group marched to the Dirksen Federal Building in Daley Plaza, where senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk have offices.

Many of the youths have parents who are undocumented and at risk of deportation.

"I don't want to get separated from my mother because .. if she leaves I don't think I'm going to do good in school," said 10-year-old Chris Romero.

Many of the marchers' signs were emblazoned with butterflies, the symbol of migration.

"Immigrants come and they're here, they're working hard and then all of a sudden they sent them back to their countries. So they leave the children right here and then the children are having a hard time," Romero explained.

Organizers of Tuesday's march said an estimated 100,000 children have lost parents to deportations. Thousands of those children end up in foster care.

"I want to stay here because there's a lot of opportunities for me. I want to continue my education and help out others," said Herrera. "I want the senators to do a big change and do it fast."

The Talk: Organizer, Participant Discuss Immigration March
Ere Rendon with the Resurrection Project and Erika Ramirez say they're doing their part to help make sure thousands of immigrant families aren't split apart.
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