PHOTO: Gladis Ibarra, co-executive director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, speaks at a press conference kicking off CIRC’s Pilgrimage for Citizenship on December 1, 2023 at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)
This story by Lindsey Toomer appered on Colorado Newsline on December 1, 2023.
Activists from the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition on Friday kicked off a march that will take them 60 miles from the state Capitol to Greeley to urge leaders to support the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants through an updated registry law.
Organizers say the goal of the pilgrimage is to get the attention of U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Thornton Democrat and Colorado’s first Latina in Congress, as well as both of Colorado’s U.S. senators, Democrats John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet.
CIRC wants to see the full Democratic delegation support House Resolution 1151, Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929. Colorado’s other four Democrats in Congress — Reps. Diana Degette of Denver, Joe Neguse of Lafayette, Jason Crow of Centennial and Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood — have all shown support for the bill, which would allow about 8.5 million undocumented immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for years to apply for citizenship.
The pilgrimage made stops in Denver at Bennet and Hickenlooper’s offices, and made its way up to Northglenn to visit Caraveo’s office and speak with members of her staff. Throughout the rest of the weekend, those marching all 60 miles over four days will make stops in other towns throughout Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, where immigrants are an integral part of the community, ending their march in Greeley.
Leticia Ramírez is an immigrant mother who has been in Colorado for almost 23 years. She’s committed to marching all 60 miles of the pilgrimage and said she is hopeful it will get the attention of Colorado’s only Latina in Congress.
“We really don’t know exactly what’s holding her (back from) supporting us,” Ramírez said. “But we want to let her know that she’s not alone. She counts on us as we count on her.”
Activist Carlos Rojas said the bill would also give the opportunity for those in the future who have been in the U.S. for seven years to have a path to apply for citizenship. He estimated the group will walk about 15 miles each day.
“We have seen that immigration is what makes this country great,” Rojas said. “Immigration is what this country has been founded upon, and we believe that we need an automatic pathway to citizenship for folks that have been here for a few years and have developed roots.”
Gladis Ibarra, co-executive director of CIRC, thanked the four Colorado Democrats who support the updated registry bill, who had representatives from their offices in attendance at Friday morning’s kickoff. She said while her organization is grateful for the support of these members, they will also remember who has not supported them throughout the process fighting for a path to citizenship.
“We hope that at the end of these four days, we have different news, that people have seen us for our humanity and respect and our dignity, and are able to support this publicly — because it will change many lives, including those of my family,” Ibarra said.
Omar Gomez, who said he will also be marching all 60 miles of the pilgrimage, knows many families who have been living in the U.S. for decades and simply haven’t had the opportunity to establish citizenship. While he said knows Caraveo has her own district to worry about, she also represents Colorado as a whole, and getting the support of all of Colorado’s Democrats would send a message to the nation.
“She is the daughter of immigrants. It is sad for us that we have to come and ask for something that she should be doing already,” Gomez said.
In an email to Newsline, spokesperson Kaylin Dines said that Caraveo is “supportive of creating a pathway to citizenship.”
”She is appreciative of the hard work of groups in our community who advocate for the rights and dignity of immigrants, and looks forward to hearing what they have to say,” Dines said.