About 150 protesters showed up at the steps of the federal courthouse in Eugene, Saturday. They protested against the detainment of undocumented children by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico Border.
This story has been updated.
Patricia Toledo was one of the speakers at the event. As a first-generation immigrant herself, she said the influx of asylum seekers at the border is the responsibility of the United States.
“Asylum-seekers now they need us, they come here for a hope for a better life. They live in extreme poverty in Central American countries," Toledo said.
In her speech she said the migration of Central Americans to the U.S. is a natural response. "It is the search of survival from the economic and political systems of oppression," she said, "When we talked about responsibilites the public opinion blames corrupted local governments, but what about the responsibility of U.S. government and U.S. transactional extract industries?"
Toledo called for the state legislature to pass Governor Kate Brown’s $2 million Immigration Defense Fund. The fund is directed toward Innovation Law Lab in Portland and is included in HB5050. The bill passed both the State House and Senate on Sunday night.
A few feet from the rally on the corner of 8th and Broadway, several protesting parents constructed a visual demonstration where they let their children sit in cages.
“I can’t imagine being separated from my child. For one moment. I’m here with my son, because he’s standing with me. Baby’s don’t belong in cages, babies belong with their families," said Nikki Daylo.
She said she wanted to show support for separated families and that not one human life is more important than another.
The rally included a donation drive for newly arrived asylum seekers currently in Lane County, and a station where people could write to their legislators.
To close out the event, dozens of protestors marched downtown at the center of the Saturday Market.
