"Not one more:" Annual May Day marchers want deportations to stop



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- On Thursday, May 1st the annual May Day March, which is organized by Voces de la Frontera, focused on deportation and immigration.

"It's important to march," said Luis Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said he was encouraged to see some diversity in the crowd of an estimated 1,000 people.

"We're united, because we all want the same thing, and -- even though some people aren't Mexican, they're still supporting us, because equality for humans is for everybody, " said Gonzalez.

The May Day March usually starts at Voces de la Frontera and ends at a Milwaukee park, but this year, the crowd made its way from the city's near south side, across the 6th St. viaduct, and ended at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

When marchers arrived at the courthouse they spoke and shared stories about how a range of immigration issues, including immigration raids in courthouses, have affected them and their families.

"You should be able to come here and do whatever business you need to conduct, without worrying about whether or not you're going to be able to walk out of our courthouse," said Marissa Leza.

Leza's father, Jesus, spent two undocumented decades in the U.S. before being deported to Mexico in March, after being caught in an ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raid.

"There's been over 2 million deportations and a lot of families who have been suffering. I mean, there has to be an ending to this," said Leza.

Leza may take some solace in an ICE statement indicating the agency, "Recently provided its field personnel with updated guidance related to its enforcement actions in or near courthouses. However, due to law enforcement sensitivities, the specific details of that guidance are not being released."

Marchers also had a message for President Obama. They want him to use his executive authority to halt the deportations of undocumented adults.