Latino Congressman Says Obama Administration Has Failed on Immigration

San Jose Mercury News: U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., blasted the Obama administration Thursday night for deporting record numbers of people from the country and for breaking promises made to immigrant voters during the 2008 presidential campaign. "He came to our neighborhoods, he came to our communities, he gave speeches," Gutierrez said, interspersing Spanish and English on a visit to an East Oakland school. A predominantly Spanish-speaking crowd of several hundred people packed into the gymnasium of the Cesar Chavez Education Center to hear Gutierrez speak. Some shared stories of how immigration arrests had divided their families. "When I was 15 years old, I felt my life was over," said Richmond resident Bianca Rojo, describing how her parents were deported to Mexico nearly six years ago. Gutierrez, who hails from the president's home city of Chicago, began his speech by quoting directly from Obama's 2008 campaign statements about fixing an unjust immigration system and ending raids that split families apart. Then, Gutierrez explained how he felt those pledges had not been met. Gutierrez said the immigrant community made a mistake when "we attached our fight for rights to a political group." He told listeners to ignore those who say Latinos should prioritize maintaining Democratic loyalty over standing up for human rights.