May day rally in Seaside focuses on proposed border wall
UPDATED 5/1/2017 10:00 PM: Dozens of people rallied in Seaside Monday for May Day with a focus on immigration.
Many are upset about President Trump’s comments that a border wall will be built.
The Seaside rally was one of many held around the Central Coast and across the country.
“We need safety, we need cameras we need all of the things we’re going to be putting in. We need the wall and we will build the wall.” said President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Those comments from the President kept people fired up through the weekend. Many made their anger heard as part of May Day rallies in Seaside.
“I’m against the wall” said Barbara Tosh who attended the Seaside rally. ” I think it’s a stupid idea and the idea of getting Mexico to pay for it is ridiculous, ludicrous.”
“Before we see comprehensive immigration reform, I think there’s an effort on the part of the current administration to secure the border” said immigration attorney Doug Keegan.
Keegan doesn’t necessarily agree with the wall but, hopes that border security can lead to immigration reform.
“I have some hope that once the administration believes the border is secure, that we can move to the next step of some type of legalization program.” Keegan said.
Last month, a Pew Research Center study showed the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. fell in 2015. The first drop since 2009.
“It doesn’t really make sense to build a wall when there are less immigrants crossing the border” said Hector Azpilcueta, Secretary Treasure with Unite Here! Local 483 who helped organize the Seaside May Day rally. He says the wall is not the answer.
“As we know, the studies have also shown that many of the immigrants that have stayed here in the United States actually flew with a visa to come into the country” Azpilcueta said. “They overstayed their visa so the wall is not going to stop those immigrants from coming.”
But that’s not stopping the White House from promising to deliver on the President’s campaign rallying cry.
“Make no mistake, the wall is going to be built” said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Monday. “The President has made it clear.”
The new government spending deal doesn’t include money for a border wall but it does include $1.5 billion for border security. Money Sean Spicer says a lot can be done with.
PREVIOUS STORY: Dozens of people rallied in Seaside Monday for May Day with a focus on immigration.
Many are upset about President Trump’s comments that a border wall will be built.
“It doesn’t really make sense to build a wall when there are less immigrants crossing the border,” said event organizer Hector Azpilcueta.
Hector Azpilcueta also said studies have shown many immigrants who have stayed in the United States flew with a visa to come into the country and overstayed their visa so a wall is not going to stop those immigrants from coming.
The Seaside rally was one of many held around the Central Coast and across the country.
KION’s Zach Fuentes has the story at 10&11.
