CA Latino activist group facing demise

[REWHBLCAIN]

What's next? Young immigration activists discuss strategies
By Giulia Lasagni
The Medill Reports (Northwestern Univ., Chicago), April 16, 2010
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/...aspx?id=163157

College-aged, often undocumented and not afraid to be identified as such.

That’s the composite of the young activists of the Chicago immigration movement: They have much in common but nevertheless find room for debate over how to participate in the larger push for immigration reform.

About 50 of them met during a panel Thursday night at Casa Aztlán in Pilsen to discuss new mobilization and recruiting strategies after a youth-led action downtown in March drew the attention of local and national media.

During that rally, which was organized by the Immigrant Youth Justice League, about a dozen youth went public with their undocumented condition.

A bill in Congress has put an emphasis on the immigration debate, and young activists are wondering what to do next.

The unity of the movement is crucial, said Kenneth Barrios of the Immigrant Youth Justice League and the International Socialist Organization. Clear, shared goals, such as a halt to deportations and quotas, he said, can allow different groups to work together to organize an upcoming May Day march.

Some, however, said the specific character of the youth movement can benefit everyone. 'The whole movement needs to listen to undocumented youth,' said Stephanie Manríquez of Casa Aztlán.

The youth movement, with its emphasis on the undocumented, is about more than just young people, and should take the lead. José Herrera of the Mission and the Immigrant Youth Justice League agreed.

'I envision the youth movement nationwide,' he said. 'There will be a lot actions coming up.'

That work is important for several reasons.

'We need to think bigger,' said Tania Unzueta of the Immigrant Youth Justice League. For Unzueta, it is important to work both at the legislative and the grassroots levels.

She said two goals would benefit immigrants. One is comprehensive immigration reform. The other is passage of the Dream Act, which would allow the legalization of some undocumented students who graduate from high school. She said the movement should nonetheless plan other actions.

'We should know that after legislation is passed the fight must continue,' she said.