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GREENSBORO —  Fourteen-year-old Oscar stood tall among the crowd downtown Saturday night for something he believes in.

“No human being is illegal,” said a teal-colored sign he hoisted above his head.

For Oscar it has personal meaning. His parents, from Mexico, are living here illegally. He worries daily about their possible deportation should they become subject to illegal immigration laws.

“It would really be bad,” Oscar said.

“We want to send a message to President Obama that he made a promise (about immigration reform) and now is the time to get it right,” said Oscar’s uncle.

They were among 200 people who lined Elm Street for May Day, one of many rallies held nationwide Saturday in support of immigration reform.

The annual event had special meaning this year in light of the new law in Arizona that would require law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there’s reason to suspect they are in the country illegally while enforcing a law.

It also makes it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.

Arizona lawmakers say the law is necessary amid anger in the state about violence, drug smugglers and illegal immigration drop houses. The law is designed to make up for the federal government’s failure to secure the state’s border with Mexico.

But critics, like many who attended Saturday’s downtown rally, contend it encourages racial profiling and is unconstitutional. Some said they had fears of the law spreading to other states nationwide.

“There are people in our own state that would like to see a law like that (here),” said Mark Sills, director of Greensboro’s FaithAction International House.

“When a segment of your population fears the police, all you have done is created a huge threat to public safety.”

Sills said it makes a police officer’s job more difficult because illegal immigrants would no longer trust authorities.

That could make the illegal immigrants more prone to being targeted by criminals, because they would be less likely to report the crime over fear of deportation.

“All this legislation does is create fear and division. It solves nothing,”  Sills said.

Teresa Bratton, a pediatric allergist who once lived in Arizona, said most immigrants are here to better themselves.

“We need to set up a structure where people can get in and supply our workforce needs,” she said.

“At this particular moment, we may not (need them), but there will come a time where we will again. Sending people home doesn’t solve the problem.”
 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com