Pro-immigration reform coalition knocks on Kevin McCarthy’s office door, gets no response

A coalition of pro-immigrant groups rallied outside the Clovis District office of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday, but was unsuccessful in gaining admission to deliver a petition asking the Republican leader to “support a straightforward and practical immigration reform.”

Instead, the group slipped the petition and a poster under the door when office staff failed to respond to Ángel Noriega’s door-ringing on a locked door just before noon.

The rally – which included about three dozen protesters on the northwest corner of Herndon and Armstrong avenues about a book from McCarthy’s office – was among three held in efforts to pressure McCarthy to produce the most significant immigration reform in 37 years. Protests were held outside his Bakersfield and Washington, D.C. offices.

Ángel Noriega, a member of the May 1st Committee, said the coalition had notified McCarthy’s office that they would be dropping off a petition on Friday. There was no response, he said.

The groups, said Noriega, asked for a meeting with McCarthy’s office two weeks ago to discuss immigration reform. When they were asked for the names of individuals, they provided names but haven’t heard back.

“This really is a mockery, not just for us, the people here today, but for our entire immigrant community who are asking for their voices to be heard,” said Noriega in Spanish..

Efforts to reach the Speaker’s office failed.

The coalition is supported by LatinX; various SIEU units; Oaxacan organizations; Líderes Campesinas; Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN); the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Mi Familia Vota; and other labor groups

In the petition, supporters state that the country’s economic growth could be stymied without meaningful changes to a broken immigration system.

“Projected doubling of immigration could potentially double the economy by 2050, reaching $47 trillion GDP, compared to $37 trillion with current immigration or $29 trillion without immigration,” the petition read. The source of the data was not named.

Gisell Gasca, an organizer of Friday’s rally, said the group is willing to meet with McCarthy’s office in Clovis, Bakersfield or Washington, D.C.

“We’ve only been talking to Congressman Kevin McCarthy, because he’s the Speaker of the House, and he’s the only one who really has the power to bring one of the immigration reform bills to a vote in Congress,” said Gasca in Spanish.

“And that is why we are here today to speak directly with him and they have not given us any response.”

The coalition is specifically asking McCarthy to bring HR 1511 for a vote. The legislation, authored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Bay area Democrat, expands eligibility for a program that provides lawful permanent residency to certain, long-term residents of the U.S.

The Registry program, as it is known, is limited to those who entered the country before Jan. 1, 1972, but the bill would remove that timetable and instead make anyone eligible who has lived in the U.S. for at least seven years.

“As immigrants we always have hope,” said Gasca. “We are here stronger than ever because the elections are coming up and we know that the issue of migration has always been a little ball that is thrown from one side to another.

It is time for federal lawmakers to “stop playing” with the Latino vote, said Gasca.

“There are millions of citizens who are going to vote for their families. Hope always dies last,” said Gasca.

The roadside rally drew several honking of horns in support, although a couple of motorists did engage in brief verbal exchanges with the protestors.

At the Ag Expo in Tulare earlier this year, McCarthy said he would not discuss immigration reform until current immigration laws are enforced and the border is tightened.