A delegation of Mexican senators was in the Valley to prepare for the possibility of mass deportations, and the removal of Guadalupe García de Rayos heightened the group’s sense of urgency.
The senators had a whirlwind schedule of meetings with local, state and federal lawmakers. They’re looking for ways to best use $50 million the Mexican government has set aside for their consulates to help undocumented immigrants.
The threat of mass deportations is an emergency, said Armando Ríos Piter, senator from Guerrero, Mexico. Meeting with local Latino leaders gave Ríos Piter ideas for making sure the cash is spent on helping people.
“We must take care of them,” Rios Piter said. “That’s why it’s important for us to keep in touch with them, and for us to use this money for legal assistance, and for them to know [what] are their rights here in the United States.”
The senators held town hall discussions with undocumented immigrants before heading to California.
