Immigration debate gives new life to May Day rallies
Groups that advocate changes to state and federal immigration laws are rallying at the Minnesota's Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the state Senate approved a bill long sought by immigration activists.
Despite a wintry forecast, organizers expect as many as 2,000 people to march at 3 p.m. from Central Presbyterian Church to the Minnesota State Capitol, with a 4:40 p.m. rally, SEIU Local 26 said.
Debate over immigration has given new life to annual May Day rallies nationwide this year as Congress debates a federal immigration bill, the Washington Post notes.
Minnesota senators on Wednesday approved a bill that would extend in-state public college tuition rates to children of people who are in the country illegally.
The measure has been under consideration for years, but it stands a better chance of passage given that Democrats control both the House and Senate, observers say.
“This is really important for a small number of students but its very symbolic for a lot of immigrant students who dare to dream that they, too, can get a college education,” bill author Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said, the Star Tribune reported.
