Immigrant rights advocates rally at state capitol

Posted on March 5, 2019
Immigrant rights groups rallied in Springfield on Tuesday morning. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights group crowded the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday morning for a rally, celebrating a legislative agenda described as promoting a “Welcoming Illinois.”

The emcee of the event talked up the RISE Act, which purports to make state-funded scholarships available to all college-age Illinoisans equally.

“Many years ago, as an undocumented student, before DACA, I remember working three jobs plus an internship to try to make it through school,” Elizabeth Cervantes told the crowd, estimated at 400. “I know what it feels like, and I don’t want any other student in our state to go through that burnout.”

Another big bill is the Keep Illinois Families Together Act, which would make schools and other public places off limits to ICE and police for purposes of enforcing immigration law.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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