Platteville, CO — After 3 arduous days of walking and sleeping in churches offering shelter, community leaders prepare to reach their final destination for the Pilgrimage for Citizenship – Congresswoman Caraveo’s district office in Greeley, Colorado. Monday, December 4th, leaders will embark on the final stretch of their 60 mile journey across Congressional District 8 in hopes of gaining the support of Congresswoman Caraveo and Senator’s Hickenlooper and Bennet on a bill to update the registry date and create a pathway to citizenship for over 8.5 million immigrants.
The registry bill has existed for almost a century and has been updated 8 times to open a path to citizenship for immigrants. The last time it was updated was 37 years ago in 1986 under the Reagan Administration. Anyone who has been in the U.S. since before the established date, currently January 1, 1972, can apply for permanent residency if they meet all requirements. The bill to update the registry would change the date to 7 years prior to the current date. This would benefit anyone who has been in the U.S. for more than 7 years, including DACA recipients, farm workers, and millions of undocumented immigrants who have had no pathway to citizenship for generations.
Representatives Congressmembers Crow, DeGette, Neguse, and Petterson are all signed onto the bill to update the registry law. Congressmember Caraveo is the only Democratic member of the Colorado delegation who has not signed on.
The pilgrimage signifies a collective and unified demand from the immigrant community, calling for dignity and justice for the millions who have built lives, families, businesses, and communities here. Immigrant leaders are disillusioned and fed up with empty promises from the Democratic party to deliver on a clean path to citizenship.
On Monday, December 4th, community leaders are marching from Platteville to Greeley. They will meet with a local congregation at 2pm for a community gathering before heading out at 3pm to march together for the final stretch to Congresswoman Caraveo’s Greeley office. This 4 day pilgrimage will cumulate in an action at Congresswoman Caraveo’s Greeley. Press are invited to cover the action and any portion of the final day. Community leaders are also available to do 1-1 interviews.
Monday, December 4th:
- 2-3PM – Community Gathering
- First Congregational Church – 2101 16th Street, Greeley, CO
- 3-3:30PM – March for Final Stretch (1.3 miles)
- Departing from First Congregational Church – heading West on 16th Street
- 3:30PM-5PM – Action and Press Conference at Congresswoman Caraveo’s Office
- Congresswoman Caraveo’s Greeley Office – 3400 W. 16th Street Building 1S, Suite C, Greeley, CO.