A rite of passage to protect immigrant rights

On Behalf of | Jul 21, 2017 | US Immigration Law

Protesters of Texas’ passed, but yet to be enacted immigration law comes from all walks of life. They gather together to stop a law that one lawyer has referred to as a “constitutional train wreck.”

Set to take effect in September, the controversial legislation provides law enforcement more power to detain suspected undocumented immigrants. It also calls for penalties – fines, job termination and incarceration – for officials not complying with immigration officers.

As members of the activist group Jolt Texas, teenage girls protesting in front of the State Capitol are not wearing commemorative colors or t-shirts emblazoned with slogans. They are perhaps the best dressed of those in opposition to Senate Bill 4.

A rite of passage for many Latina girls turning 15 is a party called quinceañeras. At the commemoration, they declare that they are no longer young girls, but now women with duties to protect their family. Part of the ritual involves a photo shoot on the steps of the State Capitol.

This year, they thought it would be appropriate to spend a little more time in Austin to declare their support for an important cause.

Young ladies of all ages are protesting while wearing their traditional quinceañera gowns. With bedazzles and glitter, they are united in calling SB4 racist and a violation of fundamental human rights. They ended their protest by demanding accountability from legislators who authored the bill.

Part of quinceañeras also involves a highly choreographed dance. During this year’s celebration, the 15-year-olds choreographed a mash-up dance to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)” and Los Tigros del Norte’s “Somos Mas Americanos.”

The two songs appropriately relay stories of immigrants and their search for jobs.