Immigrants call on Gov. McCrory to change stance

ASHEVILLE – A small crowd gathered near Vance Monument Thursday evening with a bold bilingual message: "McCrory, stop being a bully." "McCrory, déjà de ser un bully."

Around 20 people rallied downtown to call for immigration reform. Young and old, participants held signs with statements like "don't deport my mom" and "no human is illegal."

"The main point is to stand up and tell (Gov.) Pat McCrory that his actions in the past against the immigrant community is something we won't tolerate, something we don't appreciate," said Bruno Hinojosa with the Coalicion de Organizaciones Latino-Americanas, one of the groups that planned Asheville's rally. "Today is about stepping up and saying enough is enough. Pat McCrory, stop harassing the immigrant community."

Thursday's demonstration was part of a coordinated effort of immigrant groups throughout the state.

Protesters want McCrory to drop a lawsuit against President Obama's executive action expanding DACA and DAPA. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans programs would give around 4 million families temporary relief from deportation. Both programs are on hold because several states, including North Carolina, have challenged their legality.

Those gathered were also critical of the governor's reaction last summer to an increasing number of immigrant children coming to the state. After being detained at the border, at least 1,200 unaccompanied youth, mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, were placed with sponsors or relatives in North Carolina.

In August, McCrory raised concerns about the children's well-being and the safety of the state's residents.

Protesters are also seeking support for House Bill 328. The Highway Safety and Citizens Protection Act of 2015 would grant special driving permits to people in the country illegally. The legislation is resting in the House Finance Committee.

North Carolina's immigrant population rose from 1.7 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in 2013, according to the Immigration Policy Center. That year, the state was home to at least 750,000 immigrants, nearly 32 percent of whom were naturalized U.S. citizens. Unauthorized immigrants made up around 3.6 percent of the state's population, or 350,000 people, in 2012, according to the data from the Pew Hispanic Center.

"We're here for work and nothing else," Hinojosa told the crowd.

Immigrants comprised 10.3 percent of North Carolina's workforce in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Immigrants play a vital role in the state's economy and are a part of America's culture, Hinojosa added. "We are taking about immigrant communities who aren't just Latino or Hispanic; we are talking about immigrants from all over the world."

"Every day someone's family is being separated."

Jesus Hinojosa, the father of the protest organizer, came to the United States from Mexico City when he was 13 years old. He spent nearly his entire life in Asheville and has raised a family here. Although he is trying to obtain citizenship, he risks deportation everyday. The 48-year-old holds a sign that says "liberation not deportation."

"Asheville is my city," the father and grandfather said. "It's where my family is. It's part of us now."