Arturo Reyes, business owner and father of six, holds his youngest son while speaking to Sen. John Boozman at the National Immigrant Advocacy Day Rally in Washington, D.C.

The Arkansas delegation poses during the Time is Now national rally in Washington April 10. The group joined others from across the country to shine a light on immigration issues.

Arkansas immigrants and others light candles during a vigil April 10 at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith. Seven other cities hosted vigils to demonstrate Arkansas’ commitment to immigration reform. Karen Schwarz photo

Arkansans seek justice on immigration during rally

Immigrants travel to national rally, hold vigils for reform of immigration laws

Published: April 25, 2013

By Alesia Schaefer
Rogers Correspondent

Betty Salazar and her mother-in-law carry a banner to the Time is Now national rally Wednesday, April 10 in Washington, D.C. More than 80 Arkansans from around the state traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the national rally seeking reform of immigration laws.

ROGERS — In one afternoon, immigration reform suddenly became personal for Betty Salazar.

So when the opportunity presented itself in the form of a large charter bus, Salazar, of Rogers, bought a ticket for herself, two of her four children and her mother-in-law to Washington, D.C., to participate in the “Time is Now” national rally for citizenship and immigration reform Wednesday, April 10.

When Salazar’s husband, Leonel, was taken from the immigration office Wednesday, March 20 to be detained in Louisiana awaiting possible deportation back to Mexico, she felt powerless. The rally gave Salazar and countless others around the nation a voice.

Salazar, her family and about other 80 people came from around the state, representing Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Rogers, Springdale, Dardanelle, De Queen, Dumas, Little Rock and Jonesboro, to participate in the National Immigrant Advocacy Day. In solidarity with participants traveling to D.C., eight local vigils were held in these same towns demonstrating support for the desperate need for immigration reform.

The Arkansans boarded two buses at dawn, the day before the rally, to make the 24-hour trip to Washington, anticipating the opportunity to meet with Sens. John Boozman and Mark Pryor and Rep. Steve Womack and the chance to discuss how the current immigration system is tearing families apart. Interviews with newspapers and television stations also took place before participants all made their way to the rally where they would join more than 100,000 other immigrants, clergy, labor activists, policy makers and fellow supporters to listen to speeches and demand reform.

The Reyes family, like Salazar, also had a lot at stake in attending the national rally. Arturo and Sylvia Reyes, parents of six children, have lived in Rogers for 20 years and been active members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. But, on March 30, Arturo and Sylvia, 40 and 41, respectively, received papers they were to report to the immigration office in Fayetteville May 15 for deportation. The children, all U.S. citizens, would be left without parents if the deportation occurred.

Under the advice to contact their U.S. congressman, the Reyes family did just that and took it a step further by asking individuals in the community where they live, work and worship to sign a petition on their behalf. More than 4,000 signatures have been gathered in support of the Reyes family. Petitions in hand, the Reyes, their oldest son, Jairo, 20, who attends the University of Arkansas, and their two youngest children boarded the bus to the nation’s capital in hopes of gaining support for their case.

Arturo Reyes, active in the community and a successful business owner, believes he and his family deserve a chance.

“I have been working, providing jobs and paying taxes on my business and supporting my community since we have lived here,” he said. “I do not want to be separated from my children.”

The Reyes’ story is an example of the American dream since they entered the country in 1993 from Mexico. Three years after arriving, Arturo Reyes opened a restaurant with the help of his father and brother. Since 1996 when the doors first opened at their Acambaro restaurant, business has thrived and the restaurant is now operating in six locations in northwest Arkansas and Missouri.

The participation of his family in the rally was a tangible way to be a part of the national conversation on immigration law reform and to hopefully make an impact.

“We are speaking out for those that cannot speak for themselves,” Arturo Reyes said. “It is not just my family waiting for this reform. It is a lot of families.”

Betty Salazar feels the same way.

“I was nervous, but I knew I had to go and to talk with the senator and see if he could help me and others like me,” she said of her meeting with Boozman.

Her husband immigrated from Mexico with his mother as a child and has lived in the United States for 28 years, but because of language difficulties his mother did not understand how to apply for her son’s citizenship. Missed deadlines for paperwork and applications slowed the process of gaining residency. While being detained in Louisiana, he heard about the national rally and encouraged his wife and mother to attend.

“I felt we should join together in this campaign,” said Leonel Salazar, who was released on bail April 16. “I know personally how this can tear families apart.”