Kobach you don’t represent Kansas Values; Kansas is all in for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Kansas City, KS- Over 700 people and 36 organizations, including National People’s Action affiliates, traveled from across the country to Kansas City to send one strong message to America: Kansas is all in for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Contrary to popular rhetoric about Kansas, 72% of likely Kansas voters support immigration reform.
“Every time immigration is tied with Kansas, people automatically think of Kris Kobach, who has made a name for himself and a living off of pushing for self-deportation laws at the national level. We want the country to know that our values as Kansans move us to common sense reform with a path to citizenship. Kobach does not represent Kansas values, and he needs to step aside,” stated Sulma Arias, Executive Director for Sunflower Community Action.
The event began with a prayer vigil, in which leaders shared personal testimonies on how the current broken immigration system affects their daily lives. A Town Hall on Immigration immediately followed the vigil in which leaders asked Kansas elected officials, in particular Senator Jerry Moran, to stand with Kansas by supporting a pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants living in our country.
“We’re here today because we want Senator Moran to protect the path to citizenship for Kansan families! Like million of others, I’m constantly living under the fear that my mother or brother could be detained and deported. Kansans want to know, which side are you on Moran? You either stand with Kansas or you stand with Kobach,” stated Armando Minjarez, a leader from Sunflower Community Action.
Despite numerous requests, Sen. Moran did not attend the Town Hall. Leaders are committed more than ever to take action as the debate continues to move through Congress in the coming weeks.
Immediately following the Town Hall, over 300 leaders took advantage of being in Kobach’s backyard and paid a visit to his home. They went straight to his front door to ask him to stop spreading his hate, and either focus on his job as Secretary of State or step down. He has long devastated communities and wrought enormous financial costs to many states. A trail of shoes was left on his front steps to symbolize all the fatherless families due to deportations.
Ana Mancebo, a participant in the action and leader with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, an NPA affiliate, stated, “I came down all the way from Iowa to tell Kris Kobach to stop spreading his policies that are hurting families and communities across the country. We will not stand for it at the state level and we will not stand for it at the national level.”
Media Coverage:
Univision Noticias
The Kansas City Star
The Wichita Eagle
KMBC-TV
The Washington Times
The Garden City Telegram
KWCH Eyewitness News
Kake News
San Francisco Chronicle
Topeka Capital Journal
The Kansas City Kansan
Hays Post
Kansas City Business Journal